Econet InfraCo, the tower infrastructure subsidiary of Econet Wireless Zimbabwe, has reported a 30% reduction in diesel costs following the deployment of an artificial intelligence (AI) fuel management platform developed in collaboration with its sister company, Cassava Compute.
The solution, known as AI Fuel Mode, analyses how and when diesel generators are used across the company’s telecommunications infrastructure. By examining generator deployment patterns, the platform helps optimise fuel consumption and reduce expenditure associated with keeping network sites operational.
Econet InfraCo Chairman Godfrey Gomwe highlighted the results in a statement accompanying the company’s recent half-year financial results. “By using AI to analyse how and when each diesel generator is deployed, we have developed a fuel management system that has reduced our diesel costs by 30%. This demonstrates the practical value of AI in improving operational efficiency and managing one of our largest expenses,” he said.
The savings come amid rising diesel prices linked to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, which have increased operating costs for businesses that depend on generators to maintain uninterrupted services.
According to the company, AI Fuel Mode is the first solution of its kind to be deployed by a tower operator globally. The platform was developed with Cassava Compute using its NVIDIA-powered AI computing infrastructure in Cape Town, South Africa.
The technology addresses a significant challenge for telecommunications operators across Africa, where unreliable electricity supplies often necessitate the use of diesel generators. Econet InfraCo estimates that more than 500,000 generators support mobile network operations across the continent, making fuel a substantial operating expense for tower infrastructure businesses.
By analysing generator usage patterns and developing an AI-driven fuel management matrix, Econet InfraCo and Cassava Compute aim to improve fuel efficiency across telecommunications sites. The approach demonstrates how AI can be applied to operational challenges beyond customer-facing applications, helping businesses manage costs and improve infrastructure efficiency.
Cassava AI plans to make the platform available to other operators, with potential applications in industries such as mining and manufacturing, where fuel consumption and reliable power supply are important operational considerations.
The initiative also coincides with Cassava AI’s deployment of a related AI Energy Mode platform, developed with NVIDIA, to help Econet Wireless optimise electricity consumption across its mobile network. Both platforms are expected to increase demand for GPU computing capacity at Cassava’s AI factory.
