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Explosives News
AECI’s Mining Solutions business boosts group profitability in 2019 
By: Marleny Arnoldi 25th February 2020 JSE-listed chemicals manufacturer AECI reported growth in all its operating segments in the year ended December 31, and managed to achieve 10% growth in its headline earnings per share (HEPS). The company declared a total dividend of R5.70 apiece, compared with the R5.15 apiece declared in the... →
Commission finds in favour of Enaex, Sasol Explosives merger
By: Marleny Arnoldi 14th February 2020 The Competition Commission has unconditionally approved a proposed merger whereby international explosives distributor Enaex intends to acquire JSE-listed petrochemicals company Sasol’s Explosives business. Enaex commercialises, distributes and manufactures explosives and blasting agents. It... →
No boom expected for battery metals
By: Darren Parker 24th January 2020 The battery metals market is not expected to show a significant upturn this year, says blasting solutions and explosives manufacturer BME Southern Africa operations GM Albie Visser. “We do not anticipate a massive increase. However, BME will follow the lead of the electronic vehicle (EV)... →
Sasol, Enaex conclude negotiations to establish explosives JV
By: Tasneem Bulbulia 19th November 2019 Integrated energy and chemicals company Sasol and Enaex, a subsidiary of the Sigdo Koppers Group, have concluded negotiations to establish a joint venture. The companies will file an application with the South African Competition Commission to seek approval for the merger. →
Mobile emulsion pumps technology goes global
By: Darren Parker 1st November 2019 South African explosives company BME is taking its MP2 mobile mechanised emulsion pump technology for underground blasting applications to international markets. BME product manager Neil Alberts tells Engineering News that demonstrations of the MP2 emulsion pump technology are being planned for... →
Industry changes impact on explosives sector
By: Mamaili Mamaila 18th October 2019 Owing to low overall business confidence, year-on-year mining production declining by more than 4% and volatility across all mineral commodities, the explosives industry has remained relatively undynamic, says explosives and blasting company BME commercial marketing GM Ralf Hennecke. →
Transformation in explosives sector yet to ignite
By: Cameron Mackay 18th October 2019 Economic transformation in the mining, drilling and blasting industry remains slow and requires greater engagement from critical roleplayers, such as government, who should encourage the industry to realise the benefits of transformation, says rock blasting and demolition company Master Blasters... →
Water-gel technology allows for customised blasting solutions
By: Cameron Mackay 18th October 2019 Global blasting solutions provider MAXAM’s premium bulk water-gel technology range of blends, referred to as RIOFLEX, has been well received by the South African market and will allow the company to build on its presence in the country for over 20 years, says MAXAM Southern Africa regional sales... →
Omnia seeks to reset course as it emerges from financial distress
By: Terence Creamer 11th October 2019 JSE-listed Omnia, best known for the production of fertilisers, explosives and specialty chemicals, expects a strategic review of the business to be completed during the first quarter of 2020. The outcome of the review could result in the sale of certain product lines or units, as well as the... →
First glimpse into Mining Indaba 2020 programme
By: Martin Creamer 26th September 2019 The twenty-sixth Investing in African Mining Indaba – scheduled to take place in Cape Town from February 3 to 6 next year – will offer delegates new insight into issues facing Africa’s resources sector. “We’re building on the success of the 2019 Mining Indaba in terms of the high level of... →
Underground vehicles that use hydrostatic technology launched in South Africa
By: Schalk Burger 20th September 2019 Metals industry equipment and service company South African Mining and Smelting Solutions (SAMSS) has launched its range of underground mining utility vehicles in the South African market. SAMSS, which is a subsidiary of multinational foundry industry equipment manufacturer Dango and Dienenthal,... →
2T DUAL-LIFT The dual-lift utility vehicle has an 8 m, 2 t crane
South Africa’s BME enters into JV with Canada’s Consbec
By: Simone Liedtke 11th September 2019 Explosives and blasting company BME, a subsidiary of South Africa’s Omnia Group, has entered into a joint venture (JV) with Canadian surface drilling and blasting contractor Consbec. The BME Mining Canada JV, which will mainly be a manufacturing and services company supplying the surface and... →
Sasol chooses Enaex as preferred explosives partner
By: Marleny Arnoldi 25th July 2019 As part of the process of incorporating a strategic partner into its explosives and rock fragmentation division, JSE-listed petrochemicals company Sasol has selected Chile-headquartered Enaex as its preferred partner. The two companies will now negotiate the terms for potentially establishing a... →
AECI’s interim earnings down 20%
By: Simone Liedtke 24th July 2019 JSE-listed explosives and speciality chemicals group AECI on Wednesday reported headline earnings per share (HEPS) and earning per share (EPS) of 365c and 367c, respectively, for the six months ended June 30. Both HEPS and EPS were 20% lower than the 458c reported in the first half of 2018. →
AECI CEO Mark Dytor
AECI realignment projects offer long-term benefits
By: Marleny Arnoldi 17th July 2019 As a result of the strategic realignment projects completed by it in June, JSE-listed explosives and specialty chemicals group AECI expects to report a 22% year-on-year decrease in headline earnings per share (HEPS) for the six months ended June 30. HEPS were likely to be between 357c and 376c... →
Strategies, trials boost provider’s presence
By: Cameron Mackay 5th July 2019 Mining explosives solutions provider AEL Intelligent Blasting acquired full ownership of Brazilian explosives company Dinacon in April this year as part of its international expansion strategy, which will give the company an increased presence in South America. The acquisition includes a bulk... →
Omnia to restructure as it seeks to reduce overextended balance sheet
By: Schalk Burger 25th June 2019 Diversified chemicals group Omnia will, over the next two years, focus on improving the profit margins of its companies’ services and products, ensuring that its assets and investments deliver value, as well as on pursuing international expansion of intellectual property-based businesses that... →
Omnia posts full-year loss on mix of negative drivers
By: Reuters 25th June 2019 Omnia Holdings, a South African chemicals and fertiliser maker, reported a full-year loss on Tuesday as a volatile currency, droughts, changes in the mining industry and difficult global trading conditions dented its business. The company, which also produces explosives, posted a headline loss... →
Omnia flags full-year loss
By: Reuters 14th June 2019 South African chemicals and fertiliser maker Omnia Holdings said on Friday it expected to report a full-year loss as drought, a volatile currency, changes in the mining industry and difficult global trading conditions weighed on earnings. The firm said the headline loss per share, the main profit... →
Omnia Holdings to undertake R2bn rights offer
By: Reuters 30th May 2019 Omnia Holdings said on Thursday it would undertake a rights offer of R2-billion in a bid to cut debt. Omnia, which raised funds for two acquisitions and the construction of a new fertiliser plant, said last month it had agreed to restructuring talks with creditors. →
BME shows product innovation at Limpopo mine
By: Cameron Mackay 10th May 2019 Explosives and blasting company BME remains at the forefront in innovation with its modern electronic detonators, explosives and advanced technical services for optimising blast results and productivity on display at a platinum mining project in Limpopo. Involvement in the project led to the... →
AEL to provide green solutions for mines in French West Africa
By: Mamaili Mamaila 12th April 2019 One of Johannesburg-based supplier and manufacturer of explosives AEL Intelligent Blasting’s core values for this year is going green, with sustainable development also informing its plans to enter the commercial explosives sector in French-speaking West Africa. Francophone West Africa, also... →
Explosives company expanding West African footprint
12th April 2019 South Africa-based explosives company BME continues to strengthen its presence in West Africa – which is poised to become one of the top five gold-producing regions in the world. BME – a division of the JSE-listed chemical manufacturing company Omnia Group – manufactures explosives at emulsion... →
BME secures Alaskan coal mine contract
By: Nadine James 12th April 2019 Explosives and blasting specialist BME’s US segment has been awarded a contract by Usibelli Coal Mine (UCM) in Alaska to supply explosive products and accessories. Part of the South Africa-based company, the US business was established in Denver, Colorado last year. BME’s senior director for... →
AECI posts record profit from operations for FY18
By: Tasneem Bulbulia 26th February 2019 Specialty chemicals group AECI has achieved its highest ever profit from operations of nearly R2-billion for the year ended December 31, 2018. This was 27% higher than the R1.58-billion profit from operations achieved in 2017. →
Better techniques are making a big difference in drilling and blasting, says MAXAM
By: Kim Cloete 8th February 2019 Advanced technologies in mining explosives are making major inroads in the mining industry. This was highlighted by MAXAM, a global technological leader specialising in the design, development, manufacture and application of energetic solutions, at the Investing in African Mining Indaba, in Cape... →
Solar Mining Services helps to boost the Mpumalanga economy 
By: Kim Cloete 7th February 2019 Solar Mining Services, a manufacturer and supplier of explosives, accessories and blasting services for the mining industry, has made strides in growing its business in South Africa. It has created more than 100 jobs and invested R500-million in South Africa since setting up in the country in... →
Step change for Indaba
By: Jessica Oosthuizen 25th January 2019 The twenty-fifth anniversary of the annual Investing in African Mining Indaba will have a major focus on how growth in Africa and African mining can be supported and achieved, says event organiser Mining Indaba content director Harry Chapman. The theme of this year’s event is Championing... →
MAXAM to demonstrate blasting technology
25th January 2019 Global technology company MAXAM – specialising in the design, development, manufacture and application of energetic materials – will exhibit its blasting solutions product range for mining, quarries and infrastructure works, at this year’s Investing in African Mining Indaba. MAXAM has an... →
BME to focus on product improvement and organic growth
By: Nadine James 25th January 2019 With commodity prices either stabilising or improving and several mining projects entering the last stages of development or coming online in 2019, explosives company BME aims to enhance its product offering while investing in its existing footprint, says BME MD Joe Keenan. BME will showcase its... →
Colliery opened in Gauteng
14th December 2018 Last month, coal exploration and mining company Canyon Coal successfully opened its openpit Khanye Colliery with a blast following a detonation procedure led by Mineral Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe in Bronkhorstspruit, Gauteng. As part of the ceremony, Mantashe, Canyon MD Vuslat Bayoglu, and... →
NEW ARRIVAL The openpit Khanye Colliery in Bronkhorstspruit is expected to produce coal for about 15 years
First coal production due in 2020
By: Thabi Madiba 14th December 2018 Coal mining and exploration group of companies Canyon Coal is expecting first coal production at its Springfield coal project in the second quarter of 2020, with a targeted production rate of 600 000 t of run-of-mine coal a month. The project, comprising a coal deposit of 307.86-million tons, is... →
BULKY An estimated 600 000 t of coal production a month is expected
Safety assured for Vertical Drop delivery system
30th November 2018 Johannesburg-based supplier and manufacturer of explosives AEL Intelligent Blasting has pioneered the vertical drop emulsion delivery system which delivers the non-detonable base emulsion and sensitiser required directly to a storage facility, boosting safety and efficiency. These storage... →
Omnia shares fall as it warns of interim loss
By: Simone Liedtke 12th November 2018 Local chemicals company Omnia Holdings’ share price on the JSE fell by more than 16% on Monday after it announced that it expects to swing to a loss a share for the six months to September 30. It expects to report a loss a share of between 85c and 170c, compared with the earnings a share of 423c... →
Growing explosives sales in a declining market
By: Erin Steenhoff-Snethlage 19th October 2018 Although rising mineral production costs have led to declining competitiveness for the South African mining industry, which has negatively affected the sale of explosives materials company MAXAM regional director Brett Wheatcroft says this has created opportunities for the introduction of... →
Blasting solutions that take mines into digital age
19th October 2018 As mining companies rapidly shift their strategies and operating models to leverage digital transformation, new technologies in blasting and explosives are making an ever more vital contribution to bottom-line improvements. A combination of market volatility, changing global demand and radically... →
Focus turns to nonexplosives-based rock breaking as quest for safer, more-efficient mining intensifies
By: Donna Slater 21st September 2018 The South African mining industry, once the backbone of economic growth, intensive job creation and development, is declining constantly, owing to the slow rates of research and development into newer, safer, modernised, mechanised and continuous mining methods. A key pillar of improving mining... →
BME expands into US market
By: Nadine James 27th July 2018 South African explosives leader BME has further enhanced its international footprint by supplying its market leading AXXIS electronic detonators to customers in the US. In a statement last week, BME MD Joe Keenan noted that the company is already active with shipments of AXXIS detonators to... →
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