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Explosives News
Omnia raises bid for Nordex
By: Natasha Odendaal 4th August 2016 Shareholders of Canadian firm Nordex Explosives have one month to accept a now-formal fully funded, all-cash inflated takeover bid by JSE-listed Omnia Group. Omnia this week, through its mining division BME, raised the stakes with an offer of C$0.22 per Nordex share, taking the deal to... →
Explosionproof hoists, cranes
22nd July 2016 Operating electrical equipment in explosive atmospheres requires specially designed and constructed lifting equipment to avoid the risk of explosion posed by gases, liquids, dusts, vapours and other substances, states lifting solutions company Konecranes. Owing to the risks involved, Konecranes... →
Omnia urges Nordex shareholders to accept its buyout offer
By: Creamer Media Reporter 21st July 2016 JSE-listed Omnia Holdings believes its C$0.20 a share all-cash offer to acquire Canadian firm Nordex Explosives still provides the highest value to Nordex shareholders. This comes after Nordex on July 18 announced that another bidder, Société Anonyme d'Explosifs et de Produits Chimiques (EPC),... →
South Africa’s BME to make play for Canadian explosives firm
By: Creamer Media Reporter 15th July 2016 JSE-listed Omnia Holdings will, through its BME subsidiary, make an all-cash offer to acquire Canadian firm Nordex Explosives for C$0.20 a share. “Today, we are announcing our intention to make this premium all-cash offer to Nordex shareholders. Unfortunately, the directors of Nordex were unable... →
Omnia remains ‘leading player’ in African opencast sector, despite dwindling global mining revenues
By: Mia Breytenbach 8th July 2016 Despite the downturn in global mining revenues and volumes, JSE-listed Omnia’s Mining division has been “remarkably resilient” and continues “to forge ahead in maintaining its position as a leading player” in the opencast mining industry on the African continent, says group CEO Rod Humphris. The... →
South America attractive market for explosives manufacturer
By: Nadine James 1st July 2016 South African explosives manufacturer and distributor AEL Mining Services has increased its presence in South America, owing to the nature and resilience of the South American mining industry. AEL GM for business development in South America and West Central Africa Alois Kwenda notes that,... →
Despite volume slump, Omnia sees growth opportunities in mining sector
By: Mia Breytenbach 28th June 2016 Despite the downturn in global mining revenues and volumes, JSE-listed Omnia’s Mining division has been “remarkably resilient” and continues “to forge ahead in maintaining its position as a leading player” in the opencast mining industry on the African continent, group CEO Rod Humphris said on... →
Commodity markets entering period of stability, Orica CEO says
By: Bloomberg 23rd June 2016 Orica, the largest supplier of explosives to the mining industry, has begun to observe stability in commodity markets that have been marked by volatility, sinking profits and job cuts after a global boom ended. “We still see a lot of volatility, but I think that I’ve seen more stability than... →
Production, maintenance reporting systems to improve production fleet
17th June 2016 Mining and communications technology provider 3D-P has released the 3D-P Production Reporting and 3D-P Maintenance Reporting systems, powered by iVolve, to improve the efficiency of mines. Adding to its current portfolio of application integration solutions and wireless network services, 3D-P... →
EFFICIENCY OF MINES Production and maintenance reports contribute to better decision-making
Solution for disposal of used oil answer to reducing emissions
By: Robyn Wilkinson 17th June 2016 An environment-friendly product for the disposal of used oil generated by quarries and other mining operations has been developed by commercial explosives and blasting solutions developer AEL Mining Services. The solution is also expected to help the mining industry prepare for the carbon tax... →
Monitoring technology facilitates live tracking of explosives supply
By: Kimberley Smuts 27th May 2016 Commercial explosives producer and supplier AEL Mining Services has developed advanced monitoring technology to provide a fully integrated system that ensures technologically advanced supply chain management. Launched last month, the technology will be deployed throughout the year to AEL sites in... →
Australian opencast mine completes world’s largest blast
By: Kimberley Smuts 6th May 2016 The Daunia opencut coal mine, in the north-eastern state of Queensland, Australia, broke the world record for the largest-ever electronic detonator blast in December, firing 5 665 detonators in 2 683 blastholes using the South Africa-developed AXXIS digital initiation system from explosives firm... →
Explosives company helps expedite gold pour
8th April 2016 Developer, producer and supplier of commercial explosives AEL Mining Services has helped Canadian midtier gold miner Asanko Gold complete the first phase of the development of its new Obotan mine, in the Amansie West district of Ghana’s Ashanti region a month ahead of schedule. →
West African chamber to launch at Ghana mining event
8th April 2016 The newly formed West African Chamber of Mines (Wacom), which comprises chief executives from the chambers of mines in Ghana, Mali, Sierra Leone, Liberia and Burkina Faso, will be officially launched at the twelfth West African Mining & Power Exhibition (Wampex) in June. →
AECI generates 56% of total earnings from mining
By: Mia Breytenbach 4th March 2016 Explosives and specialty chemicals company AECI reported that 56% of the group’s revenue for 2015 has been generated from the global mining industry, of which explosives contributed 44% and mining extraction and chemicals 12%. Speaking at the company’s results presentation for the year ended... →
EXPLOSIVE PERFORMANCE Overall explosives volume sales in Africa increased by 14%, attributed to positive volume growth in the central and West Africa and favourable product mixes
Bulk land sale boosts AECI’s earnings to 6% a share
By: Mia Breytenbach 23rd February 2016 Explosives and specialty chemicals company AECI’s headline earnings per share (HEPS) rose 6% to 894c for the year ended December 31, mostly owing to benefits gained from the company’s bulk property sale in Somerset West in June 2015, which contributed 230c to HEPS. Speaking at the company’s... →
AEL’s Simon Tose accepted as SAIMM fellow
By: Anine Kilian 1st February 2016 Local explosives manufacturer and distributor AEL Mining Services mining optimisation manager Simon Tose has been accepted as a fellow of the South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (SAIMM). Tose said he would take the opportunity to give back to the industry, especially the youth.... →
Africa still focus of explosives company
22nd January 2016 JSE-listed Omnia Group’s mining explosives division, BME, continues to invest in its growing African footprint despite the depressed mining climate, as the continent remains a strategic focus area for opportunities in the mining industry. “BME is developing the business in various parts of Africa... →
AEL expands South American footprint
By: Megan van Wyngaardt 21st January 2016 Local explosives manufacturer and distributor AEL Mining Services is expanding its footprint in South America by now offering its full suite of products and technical expertise directly to its customers, rather than through distributors. This, AEL South America and West Central Africa business... →
Collaboration key to sustainable growth
By: Nadine James 15th January 2016 Explosives suppliers and manufacturers needed to start establishing common goals, share knowledge on training, and standardise testing methodology and best practices to ensure sustainable economic growth, said integrated energy and chemicals company Sasol senior manager of technical services Ron... →
Virtual reality set to revolutionise explosives education
By: David Oliveira 11th December 2015 Virtual reality (VR) will revolutionise education, said University of Pretoria mining engineering department senior lecturer Wolter de Graaf, At the inaugural Explosives Education and Research in Africa seminar, held in Johannesburg last month. De Graaf was speaking in light of the achievement in... →
Call to bridge explosives skills gap as many current personnel approach retirement age
By: David Oliveira 27th November 2015 Knowledge management was key to bridging the knowledge gap in the explosives industry, North-West University chemical and mineral engineering lecturer and explosives engineering programme manager Joe-Nimique Cilliers said at the inaugural Explosives Education and Research in Africa conference, in... →
Continued investment and partnerships pivotal under current market downturn 
By: Zandile Mavuso 27th November 2015 In the current economic downturn, JSE-listed Omnia Group’s mining explosives division BME believes that partnership and continuing to improve productivity through product innovation is key to survival. →
3D blasting method achieves safe and effective results
By: Bruce Montiea 20th November 2015 Stereo photogrammetry has proven its value in the mining industry as an easy and cost-effective way to profile rock faces for blast design and characterisation, says blast engineering and consulting firm RA McClure (RAM) president Robert McClure. McClure stated this at explosives supply chain... →
Benefits of electronic detonation being realised
20th November 2015 Electronic detonators are fast becoming an integral part of effective mining processes across the world, says electronic initiation system designer DetNet marketing director Johann Smit. “[The benefits of] electronic blast [initiation] are being recognised worldwide,” he says, adding that using... →
Blast design system aids risk management
20th November 2015 Using mining software, hardware and services provider Maptek’s blast design and management system, BlastLogic, mines can pre-empt blast-related risk and productivity issues through the instantaneous sharing and visualisation of operational data. “BlastLogic accelerates the process of creating and... →
Innovation needed to reduce blasting costs
20th November 2015 Blasting and mining companies should collaborate to find ways of performing blasts efficiently, says commercial explosives supplier AEL Indonesia technical manager Carlos Paz, noting that blasting projects should also be approached more innovatively to drive cost reductions. He adds that... →
Mines must consider postblast fume problems
By: Bruce Montiea 20th November 2015 Mines should try to create conditions that reduce the risk of toxic-fume production during blasting, says business consulting service company Kilmorie Consulting. The company notes that, in most cases, fumes emanating from the use of explosives are nontoxic; however, an understanding of the... →
CAUTION NEEDED The potential for postblast fume problems has to be taken into consideration at managerial level so that clear direction on fume minimisation can be provided to all staff
Muckpile-fragmentation monitoring system provides fast, economical solution when blasting
20th November 2015 Miners are now able to quantify the post-blast fragmentation of rocks using the Split-ShovelCam system, an economical alternative to manual sampling that provides an instant objective measure, as opposed to subjective qualitative estimates. The system, whose latest version was released in... →
New blasting company MD to focus on customer engagement
By: Bruce Montiea 20th November 2015 A continuous focus on customers to better understand their requirements and include their voice in in-house decision-making processes will be the main strategy of newly appointed explosives supply chain company BME MD Joseph Keenan. “In the early days of my role, I have had the opportunity to... →
Explosives industry needs knowledge management to close gaps 
By: David Oliveira 16th November 2015 Knowledge management was key to bridging the knowledge gap in the explosives industry, North-West University chemical and mineral engineering lecturer and explosives engineering programme manager Joe-Nimique Cilliers said at the inaugural Explosives Education and Research in Africa conference, in... →
Existing technology used to enhance blast design methods
23rd October 2015 Mining solutions provider and explosives supplier BME’s technical director Tony Rorke asserts that the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), global positioning systems (GPS) and three-dimensional (3D) photogrammetric software, has enhanced the field of blast design, thus improving blast results... →
Omnia appoints new explosives division MD
By: Sashnee Moodley 18th September 2015 JSE-listed chemicals group Omnia has appointed Joseph Keenan the new MD of its explosives division, Bulk Mining Explosives. Group CEO Rod Humphris said in a statement to shareholders on Friday that Keenan was an accomplished international executive with more than 20 years of global experience in... →
Precautionary measures highlighted by explosives regulations
By: Mia Breytenbach 18th September 2015 Changes in the explosives regulations under the Mine Health and Safety Act are increasing the focus on safety through prescribed precautionary measures for explosives and blasting, states commercial law and litigation firm Fasken Martineau South Africa (SA). The changes were promulgated in July... →
REGULATORY CHANGE Additional prescribed measures in the explosives regulations cover the storage, preparation, detonation and destruction of explosives in mining methods
Latest technology renders mines ready for the future
28th August 2015 Mining houses that are deploying the latest technology in the areas of robotics, sensors, automation, wearables and connectivity will likely emerge as winners in the unceasing quest for operational excellence in the mining industry, says global information technology, consulting and outsourcing... →
AECI H1 earnings rise 45% on bulk property sale
By: Megan van Wyngaardt 28th July 2015 Explosives and specialty chemicals company AECI’s R400-million bulk property sale, in Somerset West, paired with a maintained market share, despite a difficult environment, pushed its headline earnings for the six months to June 30, up 45% to R632-million, compared with R436-million in the first... →
AECI CEO Mark Dytor
Better understanding of fire risks needed – industry body
By: Leandi Kolver 24th July 2015 Persons working in hazardous locations have to understand their environment, its associated risks and the applicable laws and standards better, the South African Flameproof Association (Safa) tells Mining Weekly, stating that education is of paramount importance. In addition, better monitoring in... →
Event highlights explosives health and enviro risks
By: Leandi Kolver 24th July 2015 The health and environmental issues pertaining to explosives have to be addressed, says Mogorosi Communications conference producer Grace Gambiza, commenting on topics discussed at the third Annual Explosives Conference, which took place on May 26 and 27, in Johannesburg. Mogorosi Communications... →
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