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Explosives News
Huge explosion in Ghana mining region kills residents, fells buildings
By: Reuters 21st January 2022 An explosion in Ghana's rural Western Region on Thursday razed hundreds of buildings and killed an unknown number of residents when a truck carrying explosives to a gold mine collided with a motorcycle. Unverified videos posted on local media showed a large, smouldering blast site in which... →
BME unpacks the benefits behind its new-generation electronic detonator 
By: Marleny Arnoldi 19th January 2022 Mining explosives and blasting technology supplier BME has unpacked the benefits of its latest and most advanced electronic blast detonation system called AXXIS Titanium. The company hails this system as a significant advance for both the company and the country, as it improves South Africa’s... →
Newcrest to test new blasting tech from Orica
By: Esmarie Iannucci 13th January 2022 Gold miner Newcrest Mining’s Cadia underground operation, in New South Wales, will become a testing ground for a first-of-its-kind semi-automated explosives delivery system in the second half of 2022. The system, which was co-developed by Orica and Epiroc, is designed to remove people from... →
Intrinsic testing tools a necessity – manufacturer
By: Halima Frost 19th November 2021 Using intrinsically safe testing tools in the mining and industrial sectors is of the “utmost importance” amid the explosive gases, vapours and dust in those industries, says testing and measurement equipment provider Comtest technical sales manager Gerrit Barnard. Devices that are certified as... →
Flame-detection series in demand
By: Halima Frost 19th November 2021 Since the launch of its new Det-Tronics X-Series range of flame detectors earlier this year, multinational home and industrial appliance manufacturer Carrier Global has noted a marked increase in demand for the detectors. Carrier Global sub-Saharan Africa sales manager Randhir Seodutt attributes... →
AECI provide explosives to K9 detection team to help curb illicit, criminal use
By: Donna Slater 3rd November 2021 To help curb illegal use of explosives, AECI Mining Explosives has partnered with explosive detection patrol company Vapor Wake K9 South Africa (VWK9SA) by providing it with samples of explosives to assist in training its dogs. Criminal activities that involve the use of illicit explosives in... →
Explosives company achieves world-class rating
By: Halima Frost 29th October 2021 Mining explosives and blasting technology supplier BME, a member of diversified chemicals group Omnia, tells Mining Weekly it has achieved a record-low recordable case rate of 0.05% in the blasting sector for the last financial year. A recordable case rate is a well-established measure of safety... →
Explosives growth follows industry growth
By: Nadine Ramdass 15th October 2021 The African explosives sector remains steady, owing to an increase in African mining opportunities and positive market conditions, says BME Southern African Development Community (SADC) MD Ralf Hennecke. With the growing interest in battery minerals such as lithium and cobalt, there is a further... →
Differential GPS brings much needed autonomy to blasting
15th October 2021 AECI Mining Explosives’ new, high-accuracy (sub-1m) Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS) brings autonomy to the blast hole tagging process, thus maximising efficiency by eliminating potential human error on the bench and ensuring integrity of drill and blast operations. Safety and good... →
Explosives tech aims to humanise mining
By: Nadine Ramdass 15th October 2021 The lack of new investment in the form of new mining projects has resulted in little growth for the explosives industry, and while the expansion projects of existing operations have helped the industry somewhat, greenfield projects can facilitate more significant growth. The mining explosives... →
Explosives company aims to extend its reach
By: Cameron Mackay 8th October 2021 As part of bulk emulsion explosives and mining technology manufacturer BME’s ongoing strategic global expansion strategy, the company plans to continue growing its footprint in mining in West Africa, states BME West African operations GM Michael Klaasen. “BME has been active in West Africa for... →
Predicted growth to bolster services demand
By: Claire O'Reilly 10th September 2021 Mining explosives and blasting technology supplier BME, a member of diversified chemicals group Omnia, expects growth opportunities that will run parallel to the predicted growth of the Zambian mining sector. →
Omnia firmly in a growth phase following restructuring – CEO 
By: Simone Liedtke 16th August 2021 Diversified chemical manufacturing company Omnia intends to “settle down” following the completion of its strategic restructuring, and to take some time to focus on its people, culture and setting a “firm foundation to grow from”. Omnia CEO Seelan Gobalsamy tells Engineering News the company is... →
Company provides custom service packages
By: Nadine Ramdass 23rd July 2021 Explosives and blasting services provider BME Indonesia are providing the Indonesian mining industry with packages that can be customised based on the industries’ and customers’ requirements. This is beneficial to Indonesia in operational sense in that it entails safe and efficient blasting,... →
Electronic gauges for hazardous areas
16th July 2021 Industrial electronics producer Instrotech is offering geotechnical solutions specialist Keller’s range of five intrinsically-safe electronic pressure gauges for use in areas subject to gas explosion risks. The type approvals are compliant with the ATEX explosion protection directive regarding... →
Digital blasting on the rise in Africa
By: Darren Parker 9th July 2021 Africa’s mining industry is embracing digital technologies in blasting, says explosives technology company BME technology and marketing GM Ralf Hennecke. He explains that digital blasting technologies are enhancing safety, efficiency, ease of use and the integration of blasting processes into... →
Explosives demand in Africa picking up
By: Darren Parker 9th July 2021 With demand for explosives improving, mining explosives technology company BME, part of JSE-listed Omnia Group, has been successfully maintaining supply to customers across Africa. BME GM Ralf Hennecke notes that this was despite the disruptions and cross-border challenges the company faced. He... →
Australia’s Thiess extends AECI contract by five years
By: Donna Slater 6th July 2021 Explosives company AECI’s Australian subsidiary has been awarded a five-year contract extension by mining contractor and services provider Thiess for the supply of bulk emulsion explosives, initiating systems and related services to mines in Queensland and New South Wales. The Australian... →
Mining vital to economy, can help guide country's path – President
By: Martin Creamer 5th July 2021 Mining is vital to the South African economy and the opportunities that exist in mining can help guide the country’s path to a more inclusive and equitable economy, President Cyril Ramaphosa stated on Monday. Writing in his From the Desk of the President column, Ramaphosa placed mineral and... →
Enaex to open pioneer DaveyTronic electronic detonator assembly plant in Africa
By: Tasneem Bulbulia 7th June 2021 Blasting services company Enaex Africa has recently approved a R16-million investment in the pioneer Enaex Electronic Initiation Systems assembly plant in Africa. This local assembly facility will be located in the company’s Enaex Africa Secunda Complex in South Africa and is expected to start... →
Software released that predicts vibration, airblast outcomes
4th June 2021 The world’s largest manufacturer of commercial explosives and innovative blasting systems Orica recently announced the release of its new Advanced Vibration Management (AVM) software that links blast design, modelling and measurement to conserve sensitive structures. →
Emulsion delivery system a ‘game changer’
14th May 2021 In an expansion project at its Chambishi mine in Zambia, metal company Non-Ferrous China Africa (NFCA) opted to install explosives company AECI Mining Explosives’ emulsion vertical delivery system (EVDS) to further its aim of developing a cost-effective mining operation. Both the emulsion and... →
Aspasa launches online explosives audit, encourages members to register qualified engineers
By: Simone Liedtke 3rd May 2021 Surface mining industry association the Aggregate and Sand Producers Association of Southern Africa (Aspasa) has launched an innovative and nonintrusive online explosives audit in its ongoing attempts to increase the safety and effectiveness of blasting operations at mines. Over the past three... →
Group introduces new blasting brand
By: Khutso Maphatsoe 30th April 2021 Blasting technology is moving mining towards a more sustainable future, a trend spurred by the recent launch of blast services provider BME’s Blast Alliance brand on April 1, says BME MD Joe Keenan. Member of the JSE-listed Omnia group, BME announced during the launch that the Blast Alliance... →
Chilean mining city of Calama rocked by blast at explosives factory
By: Reuters 19th April 2021 A large blast rocked the northern Chilean mining city of Calama on Friday afternoon following an explosion in a storage warehouse belonging to Enaex , which produces explosives for the mining industry. The explosion shook buildings and set off car alarms up to 25 km from the plant and generated... →
Canadian underground mining likely to take hydrogen ventilation lead – HySA
By: Martin Creamer 6th April 2021 Canadian and Australian mines are big on wanting hydrogen ventilation in underground mining operations, and Canada will likely lead in the use of hydrogen underground. This is the view of Professor Dmitri Bessarabov, the director of the Department of Science and Innovation's National Centre of... →
Company releases drill, blast knowledge base
2nd April 2021 Underground drill and blast planning software company iRing has introduced an extensive, searchable and comprehensive Knowledge Base that provides answers to questions concerning the use of commercial explosives in mining and construction applications. This includes the physics of the detonation... →
AECI sets 2025 sustainability targets
By: Marleny Arnoldi 26th March 2021 Chemicals group AECI has set itself six group-specific sustainability targets for 2025, as shared in the company’s first-ever sustainability report published on March 26. The sustainability report includes a sustainability framework with ten overarching goals for “a better world” in the areas... →
New blasting system to be launched in 2021
By: Theresa Bhowan-Rajah 12th March 2021 Explosives and blasting systems provider Orica will launch the next generation of the wireless blasting system solution, WebGen 200. The WebGen 200 is set for commercial release in late 2021; with availability subject to the regulatory approvals. Orica initiating systems VP Adam Mooney describes... →
AECI’s diversification strategy helped to deliver solid 2020 performance amid challenging year
By: Marleny Arnoldi 24th February 2021 JSE-listed chemicals group AECI has declared a final cash dividend of 470c apiece for the year ended December 31, 2020, despite a 55% year-on-year decrease in profit from operations to R917-million. The total ordinary dividend for 2020 was 570c apiece, unchanged from the total dividend for 2019. →
AECI CEO Mark Dytor
Conducive environs offer lucrative prospects despite difficulties
By: Mamaili Mamaila 29th January 2021 Many of Africa’s mineral deposits can deliver good yields to investors, even after the additional costs that are often incurred when operating in regions without sufficient infrastructure. →
High demand for TES in blasting sector
By: Tracy Hancock 16th October 2020 The use of temporary employment services (TES) is common among South African blasting companies, and demand for this service is high, says TES provider Workforce Staffing area manager Hendri Poolman. The scarcity of skills in the field presents a challenge for blasting companies. →
Explosives manufacturer helps fight illicit explosives
16th October 2020 To promote the fight against the illegal use of explosives, commercial explosives supplier AECI Mining Explosives has partnered with private-sector canine programme Vapor Wake K9 South Africa (VWK9SA) by providing explosives samples to assist in the training of its dogs. Criminal activities... →
FRAGTrack wins international Good Design award
16th October 2020 Explosives and blasting systems provider Orica announced last month that its innovative fragmentation measurement technology FRAGTrack was awarded a Good Design accolade in the engineering category, for outstanding design and innovation. The yearly Good Design Awards recognise and celebrate... →
Company sets detonator new record
16th October 2020 The Enaex Africa team set another record for the highest number of detonators (3 876 units) fired in a single blast in South Africa, using DaveyTronic detonators at United Manganese of Kalahari (UMK). The average hole depth of the 1 938 holes was 14 m, with two detonators per hole. →
Sustaining security of supply, efficiency amid state of disaster
By: Tracy Hancock 16th October 2020 Adapting to the ‘new normal’ bought on by the Covid-19 outbreak will require companies to listen to and meet the changing needs of customers by adopting new working methods and complying with evolving lockdown regulations, says explosives and blasting services provider BME technology and... →
New rig offers autonomous capabilities on smaller blast holes
By: Halima Frost 18th September 2020 Construction engineering company Basil Read Mining has launched a new autonomous drill that could offer an increase of about 30% in productivity, compared to manual drilling, contracts director Nqobile Khumalo tells Mining Weekly. The first C650 drill is to be delivered to a mine in Botswana... →
Omnia's mining division celebrates record-breaking achievements
By: Simone Liedtke 14th September 2020 Diversified chemicals group Omnia Holdings is celebrating several record-breaking achievements across Protea Mining Chemicals and BME, which together form the group’s mining division. Protea Mining Chemicals became the first in its field, globally, to develop a solution that helps copper and... →
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