As a conservative example, let us suppose that adding a new booster pump involves an initial capital outlay of $500,000 and results in an additional 100 TPH of production through increased pumping efficiency. Based on an 8-hour day and a 5-day week with year-round production, this translates to 208,000 tons of additional production each year.
Even if material is only selling for $6 per ton, it would still result in an additional $1.2 million per year in revenue, and the booster pump has paid for itself inside of six months. The addition of a second pump does raise both the capital acquisition and operating costs.
But based on both the wear and tear on a dredge over its lifespan and its added production, it is easy to see that adding a booster pump to the operation may be an efficient and economical option.
