By Neville Judd Fuel is one of the largest operating costs in surface mining, and the challenge is only becoming more complex. As mines mature, haul distances increase, pits deepen, and operators must move more material to maintain production levels. The result creates pressure on fuel consumption, operating costs, and emissions. Traditionally, mine planning and operations have often worked in separate cycles. Planners create the optimal design, then operations teams execute it in the field. However, the reality of mining rarely unfolds exactly as planned. Weather events, changing road conditions, equipment performance, maintenance activities, and operational variability can all create…