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Aggreko’s flexible underground cooling solutions help keep workers safe and support mining operations as they expand in size and complexity.
Mining operations – particularly in rural parts of Western Australia – are no strangers to extreme heat on-site, with temperatures regularly reaching 45 degrees. In these scenarios, it’s more important than ever to ensure operations are kept cool and ventilated.
For many operators, however, the decision is not only about what cooling capacity is required, but how that capacity should be delivered.
A provider of power and cooling solutions, Aggreko’s underground mine cooling offering provides an alternative to traditional capital ownership through a flexible model combining equipment, engineering expertise, installation and ongoing support.
Aggreko underground mine cooling sector manager Alan Loudon told Australian Mining that flexible cooling solutions provide value for operations where mine life or production requirements do not justify permanent infrastructure investment.
“The solution is a clear value proposition for mines that have not much life left, or new mines where there is a limited window to produce. Those windows can be anywhere between one and five years,” Loudon said.
“However, once we are on those sites and they continue to carry on the financial study or review done by the mines, we can stay involved for a much longer time.”
The key distinction, Loudon said, is that Aggreko’s model shifts the focus from equipment ownership to operational outcomes. This gives mining operators access to engineered energy and temperature solutions without the significant upfront capital expenditure traditionally required.
“Our focus is on fast integration with a project on a mine, and we have the advantage of having available fleet and the engineering expertise to support rapid deployment,” he said.
That fleet availability is supported through Aggreko’s global network and national depots across Australia, allowing equipment to be sourced, delivered and maintained across regions when required.
“We have access to that global network, so if we do not have it in country, we can bring it in from somewhere else within the region very easily,” Loudon said.
“We can put a plant on the ground, theoretically up to around 30 megawatts, in three or four months. A capital supplier can take significantly longer because they are designing, manufacturing and delivering a permanent plant.”
Aggreko’s approach extends beyond equipment supply, with solutions developed around the specific requirements of each operation.
The company provides multi-megawatt underground mine cooling systems, including high-volume refrigerated air solutions delivered directly or indirectly into underground environments.
These systems are supported by qualified engineers, trained technicians and installation teams.
“We provide high-volume air into the mine, whether that is direct or indirect. It can be different volumes at different temperatures, but we can do it all,” Loudon said.
The modular nature of Aggreko’s equipment also allows cooling systems to adapt as mine conditions change.
“It is not always about the first requirement. A mine can start with one cooling requirement, and then, as it gets deeper or hotter, those requirements change,” Loudon said
“The benefit of our flexible approach is that we can adapt with the mine rather than the mine having to adapt around a fixed asset.”
This flexibility allows Aggreko to support operations across the different stages of development.
“We can grow with the operation. A company might come to us and say they are starting at one point, but things are getting hot, and they need cooling. As they go deeper, as their process gets hotter, we can expand with them,” Loudon said.
“Aggreko’s model relies on that constant dialogue between supplier and operator. We’re never going to provide something and then wash our hands of it. It’s our operation as much as it is theirs.”
On-the-ground support
Equipment adaptability also reduces the long-term challenge of managing infrastructure that may no longer be required once a mine reaches the end of its operating life. All solutions come with service, maintenance support and spare parts as part of the offering, allowing mine operators to focus on production while Aggreko manages its systems.
“Our approach means there is no warranty discussion around individual components. We are working with the customer throughout the life of the system and supporting them hand-in-hand,” Loudon said.
“That ongoing relationship is a major advantage because we are not just delivering equipment and walking away.”
Aggreko also provides guarantees around the performance of its solutions, including the volume and temperature of air delivered into the mine.
“When we design a solution to a mine, we guarantee the volume of air coming out and the temperature of that air,” Loudon said.
“What happens after that is entirely up to the mine, but we guarantee that outcome from our equipment.”
The company’s local support network provides additional capability, with technicians positioned across Australia to respond to operational requirements while drawing on Aggreko’s wider regional and global resources.
The flexibility of the model also extends to expanding existing cooling infrastructure as operations grow in complexity.
“We can augment a given plant. If the bulk air coolers pack up, we can send in bulk air coolers to match or even outperform the existing ones on site,” Loudon said.
This offering gives mining operations greater flexibility in how they access, deploy and manage cooling infrastructure, without being constrained by traditional ownership models.
With a dedicated equipment fleet, technical support and the ability to scale solutions as conditions change, Aggreko is positioning its underground mine cooling offering as a way for operators to access critical infrastructure while maintaining greater flexibility.
“When you need it, it is there. If you buy a plant and you do not want it, you still have it. In a world where capital is getting tighter, and operations are expanding at rapid rates, knowing you have these options can be really beneficial,” Loudon said.
“That is the value of our approach: we provide the flexibility to access the cooling capacity you need, when you need it, with the focus on delivering the right outcome.”
This feature appeared in the November 2026 edition of Australian Mining.