Modern Mining November 2023

COVER STORY

Empowering mining through innovative blasting techniques 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.

“ T he 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 fur ther 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 develop ments in mechanised trackless mining and beyond. Safety “A key issue, of course, was safety – where emul sions made it much safer to transport and store an inert product that was only activated in the blast hole,” he said. The use of a safe and pumpable product also opened the door to the concept of a vertical emul sion 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 qual ity of blasts. The system also provides mines with a digital audit trail, so that they can track operator per formance during the drilling and charging phases, as well as provide hole loading information per truck.

BME MD Ralf Hennecke.

Modern detonators have revolutionised blast timing.

8  MODERN MINING  November 2023