In the realm of mining, rapid technological advancements are reshaping the industry’s landscape, particularly in the field of blasting, according to Ralf Hennecke, managing director of mining solutions company BME, a member of the Omnia Group.
“The adoption of emulsion explosives has been a game-changer, enhancing both safety and performance in mine blasting,” explained Hennecke. Having pioneered the use of cold emulsions in the local market in the mid-1980s, BME played a pivotal role in introducing emulsion explosives to opencast mines. Over two decades ago, BME took this innovation a step further by supplying emulsions for underground use in South Africa, reinforcing its commitment to pushing the boundaries of mining technology.
Leveraging its chemical innovations, the company has spearheaded a host of mechanical, electronic and digital advancements that have redefined the blasting landscape for mines. This transformation, from traditional packaged explosives to pumpable products, has seamlessly aligned with the developments in mechanised trackless mining and beyond.
Safety
“A key issue, of course, was safety – where emulsions made it much safer to transport and store an inert product that was only activated in the blasthole,” he said.
The use of a safe and pumpable product also opened the door to the concept of a vertical emulsion pipeline, direct from surface to the underground workings over 300 m deep. This revolutionary idea was brought to fruition over five years ago in a South African gold mine. In the two decades since emulsions began being used underground, mining efficiencies have been enhanced by a range of other technological developments. These include the tools to initiate underground blasts safely from a surface control room.
Data solutions
“As electronic systems developed, mines could monitor the pre-blast and post-blast process,” he said. “Increasing volumes of data improved decision-making and blast quality, with more safety features to support mines’ commitments to zero harm.”
One such system is the recently updated version of BME’s popular Xplolog system for capturing and analysing data on blast holes and decks. Xplolog is a powerful tool for mines to monitor their block progress in real time, providing the necessary data to track trends and continuously improve the quality of blasts. The system also provides mines with a digital audit trail, so that they can track operator performance during the drilling and charging phases, as well as provide hole loading information per truck.
Electronic detonators
Another vital aspect of mining’s evolution over this period has been the rapid and large-scale shift towards electronic detonators and away from non-electric versions. Hennecke highlighted that the conversion rate from non-electric to electronic detonators has been particularly pronounced over the past 10-15 years – initially in the opencast arena but more recently in underground mining too.
“The factors behind this trend are all about precision, accuracy and quality blasting – as part of mining’s efforts to continuously improve productivity and efficiency,” he said.
Digitisation technologies have been a core element of progress on this front, in every aspect of the mining supply chain. In the blasting field, this began early with software-based blast design, evolving to include real-time reporting, data mining and the quest to achieve predictability before every blast.
Non-electric detonators
On the other side of the coin, BME also introduced an improved version of its non-electric detonator product range into the quarrying sector. The Viperdet MS Series boasts quality and reliability, leveraged from automated production lines and a certified supply chain.
Over the years, BME has invested considerably in its innovative production technology, allowing for automated processes that enhance safety, sustainability and efficiency to reliably deliver a world class product. BME’s systems harness robotics and artificial intelligence to ensure that it exceeds customer expectations with non-electric detonators. The Viperdet MS Series – which includes downhole, trunkline and dual detonators – is a triple-layered shock tube design, for high tensile strength and prevention of any damage during normal operating conditions.
Corporate landscape
Hennecke noted that the past 20 years have also seen a considerable shake-up in South Africa’s mining sector – with the effective unbundling of the large local mining houses and the rise of new, smaller players.
“This aspect of mining’s evolution demands a high level of flexibility from the value chain, as supply companies need to establish new relationships to meet new customer requirements,” he said. “It also gives suppliers the opportunity to serve more customers, if your systems have the capability and adaptability.”
He highlighted that BME’s success has been built among very different customer segments. “While we’ve developed capacity, product and expertise to service large operations, we are also known for our ability to support small miners,” he said. “As the mining industry has diversified by size, BME has responded with more tailored offerings.”
This is made possible by developing a better understanding of the specific needs of smaller operations. As more of these mines have begun operating in the same mining region, BME has even been able to further improve and streamline the way its services them – ensuring that its infrastructure is well deployed and shared among smaller mines.
Sustainability
Another important feature of mining’s evolution has been the accelerating drive towards more sustainable operations.
“For BME, our contribution to sustainability ranges from safely disposing of used oil in our emulsion product, to our digital solutions that continuously improve the quality of blasting,” he said. “With our Blast Alliance technology suite, the blasting cycle is optimised to save energy and boost productivity – for a lower carbon future.”
South African mining companies have also increasingly focused on optimising the local socio-economic impact of their operations. To this extent, BME has invested in an enterprise development programme in the vehicle maintenance sector in the mining-heavy Northern Cape province, aimed at further building sustainable economic capacity in the region.
BME’s trajectory into the future is illuminated by its advanced technology, the expertise of its teams, and its unwavering dedication to innovation. As BME celebrates almost four decades within Omnia’s remarkable 70-year journey, the company looks forward to the next decade with renewed vigour, ready to champion ESG principles and pave the way for innovative mining solutions worldwide.
