In the stope
Joe Keenan
talks blasting and modernisation
New blasting innovations support the need for mines to modernise,
Joe Keenan, managing director at BME, tells Leon Louw.
Joe, with the Mining Indaba
coming up in February, what
are the key issues in the mining
industry that you would like
to be discussed, even if it is
on other platforms? (In South
Africa, Africa and globally).
In South Africa, we need to be
doing better in terms of public and
private sector collaboration, to chart
and pursue the road forward for our
minerals sector. So, at the Mining
Indaba, I would like to see more
open debate with the government
about the mining legislation that
is halting mining investment.
When it comes to mining in
Africa, I would like to see the Indaba
showcasing more information about
investment. Over the past year, for
instance, there have been issues with
Barrick in Tanzania, mining reforms
in Zambia and major assets being
acquired by Chinese firms in the
DRC. There is a great deal of interest
in how these developments affect
the landscape for all stakeholders.
In your opinion, how has the
mining industry performed in
the past few years?
In general, I think most companies
have seen a modest improvement,
with some commodities having
strengthened. However, there is still
plenty of underlying uncertainty
which is restraining a more
forthright recovery for the sector.
What is your outlook for
mining in Africa in the short,
medium and long term?
In the short term, I think the outlook
for the mining market is still quite
rocky; but in the medium term, I can
[28] MINING MIRROR JANUARY 2018
see considerable improvements if the
interests of investors and governments
can be brought into better alignment.
Certainly, in the long term, Africa
has a range of opportunities that
many other regions don’t have,
and this puts us at an advantage.
How has the downturn and
then the subsequent recovery
in commodity prices affected
the blasting industry and
specifically BME?
At the bottom of the downturn BME
– like many others – experienced
reduced revenue and returns; during
this time, we did the smart thing
and invested in more automation
and quality programmes, which
has set us up well for recovery.
There seem to be a dearth
of new exploration projects
specifically in South Africa; do
you feel this is the case in the
rest of Africa as well? Do you
think it is a global concern? If it
is, what are the reasons?
New exploration is always a positive
sign, and more exploration is certainly
needed to keep African mining
markets strong into the future.
Globally, I think more money is being
shifted into exploration – even if some
of it is for brownfield expansion.
What, in your opinion, are
the constraints that prevent
investments in global, African
and South African mining
projects?
I think that the biggest constraint is
uncertainty. It is well acknowledged
that investors like to put their
money where they get the most
certainty of return. It is therefore
imperative that African governments
provide more certainty to investors,
as this will maximise the total
investment in the market.
As BME, we have seen several
our Canadian, Australian and
American clients wanting to
expand their African footprint; it
first requires, however, that their
shareholders feel more confident
about the rules of how the mining
game is to be played into the future.
How has the blasting industry
evolved throughout the years
to improve the health and
safety of mineworkers?
Recently, technology like bulk
emulsions and electronic detonators
have improved the working
environment for the miner. Emulsions
have made blasting safer because they
are not explosive until sensitised in the
drill-hole; up to that point, their status
as a 5.1 oxidiser makes them safe to
transport and handle – and simplifies
logistics by not requiring the special
licencing, permissions and facilities
required by traditional explosives.
These innovations have also
provided more predictable results
and increased inherent safety in the
products. Developments such as fume
classification and fume management
make additional contributions by
improving post-blast fumes.
As costs continue increasing,
and mining companies tighten
their belts, how can blasting
operations contribute to a
more sustainable future?
Chemical breaking of rock is still
by far the cheapest way to break in