Blasting and explosive solutions provider, BME is once again pushing the boundaries of safety with its world-class initiation system, this time testing the resistance of its AXXIS Titanium electronic delay detonators (EDDs) to high current AC voltages.
Times are good for the mining sector, but more exploration and mine development is vital if it is to keep up with future demand – for battery minerals in particular. With the focus now on minerals that can build a low-carbon future, Ralf Hennecke, Managing Director of Omnia Group company BME, has emphasized a commodity pipeline that is falling short.
Technology in blasting – alongside advanced low carbon emission emulsion explosives – are helping pave the way on mining’s sustainability journey.
While Africa underperformed somewhat with budget allocations for exploration up just 12% in 2021 to USD1.1-billion, exploration activity has at least returned to pre-Covid-19 levels and is expected to increase over the next two to three years with exciting projects in the pipeline in 2022/2023.
To achieve optimal blasting results for mining efficiency, mines need real-time data from their blasting blocks; BME’s new generation Xplolog does just that – and is being put to work at a large opencast mine in South Africa’s Northern Cape province.
Reactive ground conditions increase the risk of explosives deflagration and/or unplanned detonations. Unexpected and highly reactive ground conditions were recently experienced at a large open-pit zinc mine in the Northern Cape of South Africa.
This white paper is an overview of BME’s investigation and recommended actions.
