HIGH PROFILE
chain infrastructure to expand our used oil technology to all BME operations – to offer a customised and cost-effective solution while broadening our positive sustainability impact .
PM : Is electronic detonation now the norm in mining across most operations both surface and underground and if not what is holding operators back - cost , conservatism ? JK : Electronic detonation is increasingly the preferred option at mines that embrace long-term value and sustainability principles , with a real step-change in conversions to the electronic option over the past five years . System checkability and delay time accuracy allows this technology to excel at meeting key blasting outcomes such as optimal rock fragmentation distribution and consistency , vibration management , flyrock control and greatly reduced occurrence of unexpected misfires . In underground operations practicing longhole stoping , electronic initiation is used to ensure proper firing sequences that minimise overbreak into the hanging wall or footwall and reduce loss of ore due to underbreak . An additional benefit to narrow vein longhole stoping operations is fewer incidents of bridged shots – where only sections of the stope are blasted completely through , due to out-ofsequence firings . Electronic initiation has also proven to be an enabler for underground operations to reliably conduct very large mass blasts ; complex initiation sequences can be used to generate dynamic void space for the broken rock to displace into as the blast sequence progresses . Electronic initiation is seeing increased uptake in underground development mining , due mainly to its benefits in reducing perimeter overbreak and ground support costs – as well as requiring fewer treatments of misfired holes and potentially reducing the total cost of mining by decreasing energy intensity for ventilation . Among other benefits mines derive is to expand their patterns , thereby removing holes and saving on drilling , fuel and explosives – while improving overall efficiency . The accuracy of the detonators improves fragmentation , which in turn leads to more economical digging and crushing . The factors holding back implementation of electronic initiation in underground development mining are much the same as those seen in surface mining when the technology was first introduced . Front-of-mind for mine operators is the increased unit cost of an electronic detonator versus a non-electric detonator , and there is hesitancy to convert to electronic initiation technology until the economic benefits are quantified and demonstrated .
PM : Equally , has BLASTMAP™ blast planning software & tools helped operators understand the potential productivity benefits of electronic detonation ?
JK : As a powerful planning tool to harness the value of electronic detonators , BLASTMAP™ has proved to be an indispensable contributor to blast efficiency . In the drive towards mining in the digital age , it has leveraged the power of visualisation and data processing – while minimising manual data handling for speed and efficiency . Electronic detonators provide high levels of flexibility in the timing of blasts , and this demands that blast timing be carefully and accurately controlled to avoid unintended consequences and costs . BLASTMAP™ allows the user to easily and quickly time each blast . While productivity is an important benefit of using BLASTMAP™ , the main advantage is to help the operator understand the outcome of their timing by visually simulating the blast . This means accurate prediction of the blast design results in terms of fragmentation , vibration and flyrock control . Key to this is its ability to modify the blast plan to the real ‘ as-drilled ’ pattern – giving the field operator the ability to modify the plan to actual geological conditions .
PM : How is bulk emulsion delivery underground changing underground mining in terms of costs and productivity ? JK : Underground mining is an important target for productivity tools like bulk explosive pumping and electronic detonators , as underground mining productivity invariably decrease with time as the operation ages . BME ’ s solution for the use of emulsion explosive in underground mining offers a cost-effective and highly efficient delivery system . It improves underground mine productivity , reduces costs and eliminates standing time . The system includes a rapiddelivery vertical pipeline to transport unsensitized emulsion from the surface to the underground areas ; this makes the emulsion transportation process safer , compared to a system using sensitised ( class 1 ) emulsion . The technology has been proven at an underground gold operation in South Africa , where it continues to operate successfully . BME ’ s underground charging units
BME ’ s solution for the use of emulsion explosive in underground mining offers a costeffective and highly efficient delivery system
allow for high equipment utilization and reduce charging time – enhancing overall productivity . Using emulsions underground also have an environmental benefit over ANFO ; while ANFO spillage can lead to high levels of nitrates in mine water , emulsions are not water soluble .
PM : With more autonomy in mining , what progress is being made in greater automation of explosives delivery and charging trucks on surface and underground and what role is BME taking in this ? JK : Among the most important technological advances on mines today is the automated flow of data , allowing quicker and better reporting and decision-making . Our next generation BME mobile manufacturing units – or ‘ smart trucks ’ – are equipped with a digital control panel designed and developed for seamless integration with our XPLOLOG™ hole and deck data capturing system . The charge data is transferred wirelessly to and from the MMU panel and XPLOLOG™ , in a digital solution that is a harbinger of more features to come as BME equipment integrates further with more IoT devices . The next generation BME smart MMU and XPLOLOG™ solution is scheduled for market readiness in 2021 . BME is continually advancing its explosive delivery systems for surface and underground applications . As mining companies explore more remote and dangerous terrain , the case for automating blasts becomes a priority . Customers require from us the technology to enable safer and more productive blasting in these hazardous and challenging sites , so that no harm is caused to employees . Our work is aimed at transforming the drill and blast process , unlocking mining value by making significant software and performance improvements through a series of technical innovations , and ensuring we remain aligned and committed to the United Nations SDGs . IM
10 International Mining | JANUARY 2021