Cullinan Diamond Mine, owned and managed by Petra Diamonds since 2008 and previously known as Premier Mine, is located to the east of Pretoria. The mining operation is rich in South African history as mining commenced in 1903, it employed ±14 000 people at the time of World War I and produced the 3 106 carat gem diamond, the world’s largest gem diamond to date.
After more than three decades of product evolution and advancement in its emulsion offerings, South Africa-based explosives leader BME is subsuming its well-known brands such as HEF, and Megapump under the name of Innovex.
Explosives leader BME (JSE Omnia group) has completed the acquisition of Australia-based Advanced Initiating Systems Pty Ltd (AIS), a company that BME was instrumental in establishing five years ago; the move signals a rebranding and expansion of BME’s technical services and products in Australia.
West Africa remains an exciting region for SA-based explosives and blasting leader BME, which has recently won a full blasting service contract for a new open cast gold mining operation set to become the largest producer in Mali.
Sunter was talking at explosives leader BME’s popular annual conference in Pretoria recently, where hundreds of blasting professionals had taken a day away from site for another dose of high-value input from local and foreign experts.
Africa-based blasting and explosives leader BME has taken its first steps into the US market with a number of successful test blasts making use of its cutting-edge digital initiation system, blast planning software and electronic detonators.
Blasting and explosives leader BME has broken the world record for the most electronic detonators fired in a single blast – this time in conjunction with its client Kansanshi Mining PLC at its Kansanshi operation, 80% owned by First Quantum Minerals Limited in North-Western Zambia.
A local blasting company is adapting mineral scanning technology to quickly identify reactive ground conditions that could lead to blast site incidents, thereby ensuring safer blasting practices.
In a first for South African mining, Gold One’s Modder East mine has rolled out an innovative infrastructure to use emulsion explosives for all 70 of its underground narrow-reef stope panels, as part of its strategy to reduce its cost per ton mined.
The powerful combination of mobile computing and ‘cloud’ data storage is starting to transform safety and productivity on mines that embrace technology, according to BME senior software developer Nicky Klacar.
BME Main Branch
South Africa
Intaba House
13 Sloane street, Epsom Downs, Bryanston, 2191
Gauteng, South Africa
+27 11 709 8765
info@bme.co.za
