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COVER STORY
January 2016
MODERN MINING
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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
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.”
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.