Precision blasting powers safer, smarter, lower-cost mining in Africa

In Africa’s demanding mining landscape, BME, an Omnia Holdings company, provides projects with a powerful technological edge through its advanced AXXIS™ Titanium electronic initiation system (EIS).

Nishen Hariparsad, General Manager for Technology & Marketing at BME, said AXXIS™ Titanium facilitates the design and execution of highly complex, precisely timed blast patterns that were unattainable with conventional systems.

“This enables mines to effectively navigate complex and variable geology, remote operating environments, stringent Environmental and Social Governance (ESG) requirements, and intense pressure to boost production while lowering costs,” he said.

The AXXIS™ EIS provides 0.0025% firing accuracy, programmable delays of up to 35 seconds at one-millisecond intervals, and the ability to initiate up to 20,000 detonators in a single blast.

“This level of precision and performance provides consistent, high-quality blasts with superior fragmentation, optimal muck-pile shapes, and tightly controlled dilution – even in Africa’s most challenging ore bodies,” he said.

Field-proven in Africa

Hariparsad said AXXIS™ Titanium was being deployed across key mining jurisdictions in sub-Saharan Africa, including South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and West African countries.

“The system demonstrates strong versatility across various commodities and mining methods,” he said. “These include open-pit coal, iron ore, copper and diamond operations, as well as underground gold and platinum mining.”

In South Africa, for example, the AXXIS ™ EIS supports large-scale chrome and coal operations, while in Zambia and the DRC it has been effectively applied in copper mining.

“AXXIS™ Titanium’s adaptability to varying geology makes it suitable for both surface and underground applications, without limitation to specific ore bodies,” he said.

Compliance with South African National Standards (ARP 1717-1) has further supported adoption in regions aligned with these frameworks.

Facilitating sustainable, cost-effective mining

Hariparsad emphasised that precision timing had become a critical enabler of sustainable, cost-effective mining.

“Predictable fragmentation, optimal muck-pile shapes, and tightly controlled dilution improve downstream processes – from loading and hauling to crushing and milling – enhancing mine-to-mill performance, reducing waste, and lowering environmental impact,” he said.

More controlled blasting also reduces instances of vibration, air-blast and fly-rock, minimising environmental impact and disturbance to surrounding communities.

“The system’s ultra-low energy design reduces power consumption during blasting, contributing to a smaller carbon footprint,” he added. “This supports compliance with local regulations and rising global ESG standards – key to securing investment and maintaining a social licence to operate.”

Cutting costs, waste and impact

Hariparsad noted that the system’s ability to execute larger blasts with fewer tie-ins and less complexity made it well suited to high-volume, open-pit operations across Africa.

“Larger blasts improve planning, hauling, muck-piling and crushing efficiencies – enabling more ore to move through the mill with less disruption,” he said. “This translates into higher productivity, reduced downtime, and a lower cost per tonne mined.”

The system’s low energy consumption further enhances efficiency, allowing each blast box to initiate large numbers of detonators without compromising performance.

“In high-volume sectors such as chrome and coal, this scalability delivers significant operational advantages,” he said.

Engineered precision supports robust safety protocols

Hariparsad added that AXXIS Titanium™ supported robust safety protocols – critical in operation where deep-level conditions, seismicity and complex geotechnics were common.

“Each detonator incorporates a Swiss-designed application-specific integrated circuit chip,” he said, adding that this provided multiple internal safety gates against stray currents and lightning, enabling inherently safe logging and testing.”

Lower vibration levels from controlled energy release further enhance safety.

“For instance, BME safely initiated a blast with 766 detonators just 34m from a building during an urban project in Gauteng,” he said.

Supporting improved decision-making

Hariparsad said that ease of use and digital capability were key advantages, particularly in remote areas which also typically faced skills shortages.

“User-friendly systems enhance efficiency, reduce error, and support better decision-making,” said Hariparsad.

AXXIS™ Titanium streamlines operations through a multi-functional logger/blast box that integrates programming, testing, firing and fault-finding into a single device, reducing equipment needs and simplifying processes.

The system further integrates with BME’s Blastmap™ software and cloud platform, enabling efficient blast design, real-time data capture and post-blast analysis.

“This digital ecosystem allows engineers to continuously refine blast performance,” he said.

Local supply and on-the-ground support

Hariparsad said that local design and manufacturing reduced reliance on global supply chains, improving availability and shortening lead times.

“This is particularly valuable in Africa, where logistics can be complex. A localised supply chain improves resilience and reliability,” he said.

BME’s regional footprint ensures rapid on-site support from experienced technical teams, complemented by continuous product improvement driven by close customer engagement.

“Dedicated regional service teams ensure timely assistance and ongoing optimisation,” he added.

Future-fit blasting solutions for African conditions

Hariparsad said AXXIS™ Titanium reflected BME’s commitment to aligning R&D with operational realities.

“We collaborate closely with mine operators, contractors, OEMs and regulators to develop solutions tailored to unique African conditions,” he said. “These partnerships ensure technologies are both technically robust and operationally future-fit.”

A strong example of this collaborative approach can be seen at a South African coal operation, where BME worked closely with the customer to deliver measurable gains in both efficiency and safety.

He said that the colliery faced poor blast performance and unstable high walls caused by excessive burdens and suboptimal pre-splitting. “Through ongoing engagement with on-site teams, BME’s Technical Services specialists identified pre-split design and burden management as critical areas for optimisation,” he said.

Impressive outcomes through collaborative optimisation

Hariparsad said that this intervention – including adjustments to powder factor and explosive charge per hole –more controlled fracturing and a more uniform fragmentation size were achieved.

“The revised approach resulted in an 11% reduction in drilling metres per blast, eliminating the need for an additional 60 holes, or approximately 1,800 m of drilling per blast,” he said. Over a 12-month period, this translated into cost savings of ZAR7.8 million across drilling, explosives and accessories.

Importantly, these improvements were achieved without compromising production performance or fragmentation quality.

Ensuring system durability in harsh environments

BME continues to focus on improving system durability in harsh environments, expanding digital integration, and developing targeted training programmes.

“These efforts are enhancing reliability, enabling data-driven decision-making, and accelerating adoption of electronic initiation systems across the continent,” he concluded.