The Trusted Energy Partner: servicing Australia and beyond
Viva Energy is a leading energy company that supplies about a quarter of Australia’s fuel requirements. More than just a lubricant supplier, Viva Energy’s technical and sales experts work directly with customers on-site in Australia and abroad, to help understand their challenges and how to best support mutual and strategic growth.
Recently, a mining partner began planning new workshop facilities in Papua New Guinea to support the expansion of its haul truck fleet, where safe and efficient lubricant handling was a critical requirement. The site needed a bulk storage and dispensing system that could support high workshop throughput, minimise manual handling risks and protect fluid integrity — all while meeting Tier 1 mining safety expectations.
According to Viva Energy’s Technical Engineer and project lead Leonard Kasa, the challenge was less about supplying equipment and more about understanding how the system would be used day to day.
“The goal wasn’t just to install tanks,” he said.
“It was to design a system that could operate safely and reliably in a very demanding environment, while supporting the client’s production and maintenance schedules.
“We worked closely with the project and maintenance stakeholders to understand fluid consumption patterns, technician movement, workshop traffic flow and equipment access.
“That up front collaboration is what allowed the final design to genuinely fit the operation.”
Viva Energy’s Hydrocarbon Solutions team designed a bespoke lubricant storage and fluid handling system tailored specifically to the new workshop layout. The solution includes self-bunded, multi compartment storage tanks capable of storing multiple lubricant grades, coolant and waste oil, alongside a containerised pump bay and fully integrated safety systems.
Fabrication and assembly is completed in Australia and test fitted prior to shipment, an approach Mr Kasa says helped reduce installation and commissioning risk once the equipment arrives in Papua New Guinea.
“Preassembly allows us to pressure test the system, validate clearances and confirm the safety features before it leaves Australia,” he said.
“That significantly derisks the on-site installation.”
Beyond storage capacity, the system was engineered to improve operational efficiency and equipment reliability by reducing contamination risk and streamlining dispensing processes.
“Reliable lubricant and coolant supply plays a direct role in fleet uptime,” Mr Kasa said.
“The system needed to deliver clean, correct products every time, with minimal risk of contamination or handling errors.”
Stainless steel pipework, compliant access walkways, spill containment and overfill protection were incorporated to meet both safety and operational requirements.
The outcome is a workshop fluid-handling system that supports production targets while improving safety and compliance, but Mr Kasa says the wider value sits in the working relationship behind the project.
“This was a collaboration built on technical trust,” he said.
“Our role was to bring engineering and operational insight to the table and make sure the solution would hold up over the life of the asset, not just on day one.”
The project reinforces long standing partnerships between Viva Energy and our customer base, demonstrating how tailored engineering solutions can support reliability, safety and operational consistency in complex mining environments.
