Modern Mining January 2016

COVER STORY

Our philosophy is that there’s no point in us developing sophisticated technology if it’s too complicated for the customer to use unassisted.” While there has been an excellent take- up of AXXIS in the African mining industry, the technology is also making market inroads in Australia (where BME has a JV with an Australian partner). A major Australian coal producer – noted for its demanding standards – recently awarded the JV a 12-month contract to supply AXXIS detonators. In an illustration of AXXIS’s abilities, a coal mine in Queensland on 11 December 2015 achieved what is believed to be a world record for the largest single remote initiation shot with electronic detonators. A total of 5 665 AXXIS detonators were utilised in 2 683 blast holes. The blast was designed in BlastMap III utilising vector timing and two points of initiation and in excess of 2,4 million cubes were blasted in this single shot. BME also has an AXXIS joint venture in Colombia in South America while in Singapore the AXXIS system has recently been deployed on a contract – which requires blasting with the least possible vibration – for the city’s rapid transit system. In another technological breakthrough, Keenan mentions that BME is now using drones, 3D photos and GPS to take the field of blast design further. Working in a number of South African mining operations (in collabo- ration with US expert Robert McClure of RAM Inc and Terracam), BME has been combining these technologies to more effectively quantify blast parameters including drilling quality, block geometry, back damage, heave profile and fragmentation evaluation. “The deploy- ment of this technology illustrates BME’s willingness to embrace innovation and new thinking,” says Keenan. BME is also making progress in the under- ground field, particularly with its recently launched underground mobile pumping system, which brings the benefits of emul- sion blasting to narrow reef environments. “Traditionally, BME has derived the bulk of its turnover from the opencast mining field – and indeed we believe we are the largest sup- plier in Africa in this market,” states Keenan. “Nevertheless, we are making steady inroads into underground mining and have all the tech- nologies in place that our competitors can offer. We’ve had some good orders recently from the gold, platinum and diamond sectors and are excited by the progress we’re making. We’re the smallest of the ‘Big Three’ in South Africa in

Above: AXXIS’ flexibility together with BlastMap allows blast practitioners to design a blast according to accurate and finely-timed parameters. Left: BlastMap, a powerful, easy-to-use blast design software package. This is an example of the timing simulation and concentration of vibration energy.

terms of the underground market but our mar- ket share is definitely increasing.” He adds that in 2015 BME commissioned a record-breaking 318 m vertical pipeline at a South African mine to deliver emulsion to the underground workplace, replacing the more cumbersome system of transfer cassettes. Finally, and on the subject of geographic diversification, Keenan says that Africa remains the focus for BME. “We are, as I’ve mentioned, pushing AXXIS into selected overseas markets and will continue to internationalise the sys- tem while in Indonesia we are offering a full bulk emulsion service which is proving very successful and could lead to our testing other overseas markets,” he says. “But our focus remains Africa. “We are unquestionably one of the conti- nent’s leading explosives suppliers and we intend maintaining this position going forward. At the moment, mining across the continent is depressed but the long-term outlook for the African mining sector is incredibly positive. We have a footprint – and a reputation – that extends across the continent and are well placed to take maximum advantage of the upturn when it comes, as it surely will.” 

January 2016  MODERN MINING  21