Explosives manufacturer and supplier AEL Mining Services electronics field technician Ashlin Pillay was awarded the Paper of the Year Award last month at the yearly conference of the International Society of Explosives Engineers (ISEE), in New Orleans, US.

Pillay presented a paper that gave insight into a project at Ho Man Tin Station, in Hong Kong. The station is a crosscut interchange station between the Kwun Tong line extension and Shatin central link, which carry over eight-million passengers daily.

“The project needed to deliver on the construction of a subsurface transportation network at this interchange. “Owing to the high volume of passengers, the project had to be executed safely and under strict physical constraints and city regulations,” he says.

He adds that the blasting and explosives industry, like the mining industry, is continuously innovating. Blasting operations in both surface and underground mining continue to be receptive to new technology as it enhances productivity and employee safety.

“Owing to this, the paper spoke directly to those issues – how AEL responds to them and the kind of solutions we deliver as a result. The paper made special reference to Ho Man Tin Station and sharing best practice and how these techniques can add value to our industry,” Pillay points out.

Moreover, he notes that this success showcases how AEL pursues sustainable profitability and growth for its operations in international markets.

The conference allows AEL to grow internationally as it is a gathering of explosives users, manufacturers of explosives and drilling equipment, and researchers and professionals involved in quarrying, mining, demolition and construction.

The conference covers industry updates, innovations and new and existing blasting techniques, and widens industry leaders’ and peers’ horizons through diversification. The ISEE has been presenting awards at the conference for many years in an effort to build the image of related professions and provides recognition for deserving individuals who contribute their time, effort and energy to society.