Gulfstream: 10 Years of Making business easy- Aspire Magazine
1 August 2019Gulfstream: 10 years of making business easy
Read full storyThe installation of our vendor-managed inventory (VMI) system has proven to be of significant value at Gamsberg mine, where the responsibility for fuel supply and management rests squarely with Gulfstream Energy.
Gulfstream Energy is a supplier of quality and innovative petroleum solutions to a wide range of customers within all market sectors of the South African economy. Founded in 2009, Gulfstream has built a solid reputation as a reliable customer-focused supplier of quality fuels, flexible and efficient service, and a willingness to go the ‘extra mile’. We are proud to have partnered with Vedanta Zinc International’s Gamsberg mine since the inception of the project in July 2015. Gamsberg mine, located in Aggeneys, Northern Cape, currently comprises an openpit mine where one of the largest known undeveloped zinc ore bodies in the world is being exploited and which will, in the near future, feature a dedicated processing plant.
The installation of our vendor-managed inventory (VMI) system has proven to be of significant value at Gamsberg mine, where the responsibility for fuel supply and management rests squarely with Gulfstream Energy. The project, currently in Phase 1 with an estimated life-of-mine of 13 years, sees an average over 2-million litres of diesel dispensed through the tanks on a monthly basis.
The permanent installation of the VMI system has removed the burden of fuel procurement and management from Vedanta. Gamsberg’s General Manager Mubarik Khan expressed gratitude to Gulfstream’s dedicated team at the mine stating that “Gulfstream deals with all the headaches relating to fuel supply, enabling us to focus on our core business of mining”.
At Gulfstream, we place a premium on relationships and are proud of the collaborative approach to problem-solving on the mine between Gulfstream’s on-site team and Vedanta mine management. Mining Manager Johan Meyer congratulated Gulfstream’s on-site team for their sterling performance to date and unrivalled commitment to working side by side with Vedanta ensuring uninterrupted production on the 24/7 mining operation. The journey from a temporary installation at the outset to the permanent installation with a total capacity of 470 000 litres was not without challenges.
“Gulfstream has racked up extensive experience in supplying fuel to mines but the installation and staffing of a VMI solution was a new threshold that we’ve crossed successfully,” says Michael Leon, Gulfstream’s Mining and Technical Manager. Mine Engineer Mario Cloete played a pivotal role in the development phase of the VMI system installation ensuring that the design was compliant with industry standards. He commended Gulfstream on its support of local business in the process to become operational, citing the strategic importance of community development to Vedanta. Further, during the transition phase to the permanent installation, while the mine was ramping up production, Gulfstream installed an additional self-bunded tank at its own cost to ensure that stock levels were maintained during this period. Gulfstream’s anticipation that stock levels may run low and mitigating this scenario through the provision of an additional tank was “fantastic customer service”, says Mubarik Khan. The high level of teamwork and communication between Gulfstream and Vedanta underpinned the success of the permanent installation where tanks needed to be safely emptied before being moved. This demonstration of collaboration and customer service was “a commendable display of consistent performance”, according to Mario Cloete.
Similarly, Gulfstream’s recognition of the vital importance of stringently complying with HSEQ (Health, Safety, Environment and Quality) standards has not gone unnoticed. John Meyer stated that “from a safety perspective, I have not had one complaint about Gulfstream Energy”.
Despite the remoteness of the location, the vendor managed inventory installation at Gamsberg mine is fuelled predominantly from the Burgan Cape storage terminal, in Cape Town harbour, where Gulfstream holds a monthly storage position of 8.5-million litres of diesel. However, with Gulfstream’s extensive footprint of 30 supply points nationally, the mine has on occasion been fuelled via supply from as far afield as KwaZulu- Natal. Gulfstream CEO Shane Jegels confidently reassured Vedanta’s top management of Gulfstream’s commitment to the partnership by maintaining the current scenario of zero stock-outs.
VMI systems on large scale operations such as mines are generally considered the domain of the oil majors. It is a feather in Gulfstream’s cap to unofficially be rated higher than an oil major in delivering its VMI at Gamsberg mine, and a testament to the capability and willingness of Gulfstream’s team.
We are grateful to Vedanta Zinc International for the opportunity to showcase our competency at Gamsberg mine and are proud that we’re able to fulfil our mission of “Making business easy” in the mining sector.
Gulfstream: 10 years of making business easy
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