Mining budgeting
MINING EQUIPMENT COST CALCULATOR
Each piece of equipment has an hourly owning cost (depreciation + finance + insurance) and an operating cost (fuel + lubricants + tyres + GET + operator). This tool builds the full equipment fleet line.
Owned vs rented
Owned: amortise capex over useful hours (typically 12,000–25,000 h), add insurance and finance interest. Rented: a single per-hour or per-month rate that includes maintenance. Mixed fleets are common.
Typical hourly costs (Southern Africa)
Excavator 30 t: $80–$120/h. ADT 40 t: $90–$130/h. Front-end loader 5 m³: $60–$90/h. Drill rig: $100–$150/h. Mobile crusher 200 tph: $250–$350/h.
Frequently asked questions
Should I rent or buy?
Rent for <2-year mine life or while testing reserves; buy when utilisation >70 % and life >3 years. Finance lets you preserve working capital but adds interest cost.