Modern Quarrying Quarter 1 2021

BLASTING

BME’s AXXIS Initiation system has been behind some of the world’s largest surface blasts.

UNPACKING THE DIGITAL REVOLUTION IN BLASTING The COVID-19 situation has created major challenges for the mining sector worldwide and has highlighted that digital production is more important than ever when it comes to gaining a competitive edge. Consequently, BME reports increased enquiries for its digital blasting tools as mines seek to take advantage of digital technologies to react to current and future challenges with the required degree of flexibility. By Munesu Shoko. T he days of trying to convince mining executives of the imperative of a comprehensive digitalisation roadmap may well and truly be over. There doesn’t appear to be a mine owner or manager in the world who doesn’t appreciate the immense value, efficiencies and competitiveness that can be unlocked by fully harnessing the power of digital tools. to promote sustainability. “We have seen a big move towards electronic det- onators in the African mining sector,” he says. “A big drive is the testability of the product. With electronic detonators you know immediately what is going on – you can detect possible misfiring in the range and can easily detect which detonators are not responding. We have therefore seen most mines moving over to electronic detonation.”

One area in the mining cycle where the power of digital is proving its worth is in blasting. Tinus Brits, global product manager – AXXIS at BME, says mines and quarries in the SADC region, and Africa at large, are looking for innovation and technology

Brits also notes a big drive for data at mines. The data, he reasons, has always been available, but now more than ever, mines are realising the value that can be driven from the large amounts of data at

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MODERN QUARRYING QUARTER 1 - 2021