BME’s 23rd annual drilling and blasting conference is set to take place on the 12th of November 2015 at the CSIR in Pretoria.

For those involved in blast technology and blasting operations, this conference is a must, with a programme featuring industry recognised speakers from South Africa and across the globe.

The conference aims to disseminate knowledge in explosives engineering, blasting and geotechnology to help customers achieve faster, safer and more efficient ore recovery, thereby increasing their bottom line.

A noteworthy topic of interest will be a case study co-presented by James McArdle, Explosives Manager at Gold One Modder East Operations and BME, outlining the two companies’ vertical pipeline partnership. This project is a groundbreaking advance in terms of vertical pipelines, as this is the first time emulsions will be pumped to a remarkable 318m depth.

Alastair Torrance, Blasting Consultant at Blast Training International has a deep understanding of explosive products and applications and will be presenting an insightful presentation on Post-blast Fumes. Based in Australia, Torrance has over 25 years experience in the explosives industry and has been a member of the International Society of Explosives Engineers (ISEE) since 1989 and on the ISEE Board of Directors since 2006.

United States based President of R.A. McClure Inc, Robert McClure, who is no stranger to the BME conference, will once again address recent advances in photogrammetry.

Sharing their expertise on technical innovation will be BME Manager of Detonator Technology Tinus Brits, who will be talking The Next generation – AXXIS GII™ Detonator with a safety feature which offers two-way communication between the blasting box and detonators. Pieter van Jaarsveld, BME’s Technical Manager for BlastInfo, BlastScience and the Technical Software Development team will address common mistakes in blasting, while BME’s Director of Blasting Technology Tony Rorke will highlight Downstream Benefits from Blasting Right.

BME’s General Manager, Albie Visser who has 20 years experience in surface and underground operations will present a note-worthy civil case study on BME’s involvement in the St Helena Project regarding the construction of the St Helena airport.