Blasting News June 2012

Blasting Blasting NEWS NEWS VOLUME 21 ISSUE 2 2012

IN THIS ISSUE Introducing AEL’s Shock Tube Rhino connector What is the real cost of poor drilling?

AEL Zambia a model of indigenous efficiency Why Handle Explosives with Respect?

Wealth Unearthed Printed on 100% eco friendly paper

Content AEL remaining relevant

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Ensuring knowledge-transfer

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Shock Tube Rhino Connector

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AEL innovates to ensure safer mining operations

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Mighty Mobile Manufacturing Units on the move

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Blast design for long term pit stability

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What is the real cost of poor drilling?

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Making Headway in safely transporting sensitive materials

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AEL Zambia a model of indigenous efficiency

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Risk Management

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Why handle explosives with respect?

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Proudly presenting our French mini-website

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Contact Directory

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Following the re-launch of Explosives Today, our technically-driven customer publication, in our last issue, we offer you a free pull-out of issue 1 as a reference guide.

Contact Details Eubulus Pillay Blasting News Editor Tel Fax Email Web

+27 11 606 0313 +27 11 605 0000 eubulus.pillay@aelms.com www.aelminingservices.com

Disclaimer This publication does not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of AEL Mining Services Limited management. The copyright to this publication rests in AEL Mining Services Limited. Other product and corporate names used in this publication may be trademarks or registered trademarks of other companies, and are used only for explanation and to the owner's benefit, without intent to infringe.

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Editor’s News Welcome to the mid-year edition of Blasting News. We have themed this issue “Remaining Relevant” to display our commitment to our customers and the environment through our latest innovative technologies and products.

In this bumper issue, we give you a sneak preview of our latest cutting-edge innovations such as the Rhino connector and the Shock-Tube Uni-Delay LP Vivid initiating system.

Following the re-launch of Explosives Today, our technically-driven customer publication, in our last issue, we offer you a free pull-out of issue 1 as a reference guide.

From our R&D department, we update you on improvements on our existing product portfolio and share our vision for forthcoming ground-breaking innovations.

We also share insight from our internal Workshop for Explosive Engineers and Technical Representatives by providing you with papers presented by our subject specialists from our Mining Optimisation team. Topics include Blast Design for Long Term Pit Stability and Drilling Accuracy of Boreholes.

Finally, we proudly share the exciting development of our website to include French, Spanish and Portuguese mini-sites to serve our customers in regions with indigenous languages.

We hope you enjoy this issue and we welcome your feedback.

To offer comments and content suggestions, please contact: Eubulus Pillay Tel: +27 11 606 0313 or Email: letterbox@aelms.com

Eubulus Pillay

Message from the MD

AEL Remaining Relevant

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eing an international player and innovator in commercial explosives and blasting solutions, AEL has continuously demonstrated its understanding of the industry's needs and challenges, as well as the importance of extracting valuable minerals from the earth.

In line with our company values of confidence, courage and care; AEL Mining Services confidently demonstrates our capability to produce innovative products that ultimately equip our customers to courageously unearth wealth with meticulous care thereby nurturing the environment within which they operate.

keeping our global operations on the cutting-edge with the delivery of at least two ground-breaking innovations per year.

The R&D team of experts is actively involved in assisting AEL engineers and our mining optimisation team develop solutions for specific mining applications.

May this issue of Blasting News enlighten you about our role not only as a product purveyor but as a value-adding service provider.

Best regards

We strive to optimise your mining operations by bringing you a comprehensive range of services to complement our vast suite of products.

To remain relevant, our R&D team plays a vital role in

Blasting News Second Quarter 2012

Schalk Venter Managing Director

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Knowledge transfer

Ensuring knowledge-transfer at Workshop for Explosive Engineers & Technical Representatives

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n line with the quest to increase product knowledge and equip the frontline with valuable information on specific AEL product offerings; best practice and how these offers differentiate us in the market, AEL hosted the annual WEETR (Workshop for Explosive Engineers and Technical Representatives) on 5-6 June at Emperor's Palace; it was a resounding success.

The workshop affords AEL employees an opportunity to get updates on the latest technical methods and projects, to be trained or refreshed on technical issues and to share their own

At the cutting Edge AEL Sponsored R & D Project Receives University Distinction

work through presentations and informal discussion.

The event comprised a miniconference where AEL's internal experts presented a range of key topics associated with their specific product portfolios and an exhibition showcasing the latest product range.

Engineers were presented with awards in recognition for their achievements and completion of the Explosive Engineers course.

In our effort of knowledge transfer, we have included one of the papers presented at WEETR in this issue on page 10.

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kanan Ya

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Chris

EL's R & D department has established a long standing academic and research collaboration with Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) which started back in 2003. AEL has currently outsourced some key research projects at CPUT and has over the last few years provided over R6 million of funding to CPUT in sponsoring research facilities and building state-of-the-art analytical laboratories for rheological measurements.

In 2010, AEL sponsored a master's degree research programme at CPUT towards an investigation in designing and developing high performance shock tube for initiating systems. The researcher selected for this programme was Christian Yakan-a-Nwai, a chemical engineering graduate.

Pannel discussions at the conference

Christian started his work in February 2010 and submitted his dissertation in October 2011 for both internal and external assessments. His dissertation was assessed by three examiners and all of them unequivocally described his work as a “highcalibre achievement� and has now been recommended to the University's higher degree committee for conferring an award of master of technology (M Tech) with distinction.

Christian's work was largely conducted at AEL's R & D facilities and in manufacturing plants based in Modderfontein and was supervised by AEL's Senior Consulting Scientist, Professor Samir Mukhopadhyay.

The conference in session

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Blasting News Second Quarter 2012

Another AEL first

Introducing AEL’s Shock Tube Rhino Connector, another innovative product researched and developed

by AEL Mining Services

Christa Esterhuizen Product Manager International Channels

“Reliability at a click” To combat misfires occurring due to nonconforming connectors, AEL Mining Services focused on connector quality and introduced the Shock Tube Rhino Connector. This new product offers the industry increased reliability. Its ease-ofuse and refined design will ensure fewer misfires while increasing productivity.

tube retention capability and extreme temperature resistance of the newly designed connector also ensures safe and reliable initiation of blasts.

For more information contact the product manager, your nearest AEL sales office or visit www.aelminingservices.com

Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.

Steve Jobs

Premium product with extra strength Shock Tube Rhino Connector is an innovative product that is manufactured from a well researched polymer that increases strength and durability.

Deeper indents allow for precise Shock Tube positioning in front of the shockwave

Detonator lock-in mechanism lowers the risk of push-backs and pull-outs

Due to the well researched material, the product is resistant to extreme temperatures, breakage and shattering, resulting in reliable blast performance.

As a blast accessory, it stands high above those currently available in the market.

Thanks to its radical new design and revolutionary material, the connector is extremely user friendly and will allow for rapid and accurate connections. The enhanced shock

Blasting News Second Quarter 2012

Shock Tubing lock-in mechanism removes the risk of tube pull-outs

Improved ridges ensure better glove handling

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Innovation at the forefront

AEL innovates to ensure safer mining operations Introducing the Shock-Tube Uni-Delay LP Vivid

AEL Shock Tube UniDelay LP Vivid clearly visible in a muckpile

Derek Nell Product Manager Shock Tube

Meeting and exceeding customer needs and expectations is what drives us. As such, AEL has recently unveiled the new look third generation Shock Tube Uni-Delay LP Vivid assembly, a first of its kind in Africa.

This product, tried and tested in the narrow reef mining industry in the standard configuration for optimal functional characteristics, has grown into a new role which ensures quick and easy identification, even in dim and dark environments. The product has been designed to ensure that it meets the exacting standards of the industry and has demonstrated the group's dedication to on-going innovation that ensure we help our customers unearth wealth with meticulous care.

The request for a product which has high visibility in the dark and dusty underground conditions was received with particular interest since it encompasses AEL’s continuous drive towards improved and safer working conditions.

The task of manufacturing a Shock Tube Uni-Delay LP assembly which is visible in dark work places was not as simple as anticipated. Colour pigments are available which do promote high visibility, but, many cannot tolerate high manufacturing temperatures and others affect the products’ characteristics in a negative manner i.e. making it more susceptible to aggressive chemicals found in the fuel component of most modern explosives.

Two options were available for testing purposes. The first, using a known and proven formulation with a tried and tested pigmentation and the other, a translucent neon equivalent. The neon pigment option was quickly discarded following negative impact on the product characteristics.

The final product was manufactured with the new shock tube and 3G connectors and was delivered to a prearranged mine for testing and evaluation by the customer. A production blast was scheduled; the assemblies treated as any other and even compared with the standard assembly after rubbing in sludge and dust. The new Shock Tube Uni-Delay LP Vivid remained distinctly visible.

A simulated misfired hole was

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Blasting News Second Quarter 2012

Clear tubing blends in, in a muckpile

AEL Shock Tube Uni-Delay LP Vivid is highly visible in challenging underground conditions

prepared and comparative photographs taken with the typical geology as encountered in these mining environments. The standard shock tube was difficult to distinguish against the grey background; however, the yellow shock tube was distinctly vivid by comparison.

Feedback from the customer was positive. The product was then manufactured within a tight time frame and exceeded the requirements.

The vivid yellow and bright orange connectors were not only clearly visible when covered in dirt and mud, but in low light conditions, strikingly apparent against the grey and black geology encountered in the typical narrow reef mining environment.

Blasting News Second Quarter 2012

Innovative features meet customers' needs The AEL Shock Tube Uni-Delay LP Vivid features an ergonomically designed bright friction fitted connector clip, when connected to the vivid yellow shock tube, is distinctly visible as a positive connection, a further contribution to reduce skipped blast holes (representing a misfired hole) through lack of connecting to the subsequent or previous assembly. The solitary connector hanging loosely on the face will be immediately apparent through the effective use of contrasting colours.

“Through our close collaboration with our customers, we constantly seek innovative ways to bring to market

products that will improve the way we work in terms of safety, reliability, flexibility, efficiency and consistency.

We are excited by the fact that this upgraded product meets these requirements and in instances exceeds expectations,” comments Nell.

“As a company, our purpose is to unearth wealth by providing the industry with carefully controlled energy; in line with these core values, we strive to continually improve the sustainability of our environmental performance and our commitment to Safety and the Responsible Care initiative. The Vivid Shock Tube assembly was developed with these considerations in mind.” adds Nell.

For more information, contact derek.nell@aelms.com

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AEL cutting edge

Mighty Mobile Manufacturing Units on the move - Cobus Vermaak

Partnering with top Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) to deliver excellent solutions

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EL Mining Services (AEL) is a wellrenowned supplier in the mining industry throughout Africa and internationally. AEL has partnered with Volvo to offer a well-targeted solution to the market for delivery of explosives.

When the challenge is to deliver explosives directly to the bench in an opencast surface mine, the Volvo FH 8x4 400 is up to the task. Project and engineering superintendent for AEL, Cobus Vermaak, heads up the team that designed a unique solution using the platform of this versatile truck.

“We needed to find a way to take different chemicals directly to the bench in an active mining operation and to prepare the explosives compound to pump into the blast holes on site,” explained Cobus Vermaak, Project and

Engineering Superintendant at AEL. The project team at AEL comprised of Cobus Vermaak, Rickus van der Westhuizen, Happy Sethosa, Steven Burke, Alan Cottam, Gavin Bramwell, Louis Van Dalen and the drawing office support. They applied their combined engineering talents and came up with a design for a superstructure that provides for the separation of chemicals in individual compartments. A mixing device is installed alongside the chemicals and is designed to mix the chemicals in certain ratios and pump this through piping directly into the holes.

The complete structure is mounted on the rear chassis of the Volvo FH 8x4 and is therefore fully mobile. The unit is capable of moving 20 tonnes raw

material and can auger the explosive emulsion at a rate of up to 750 – 1000 kilograms per minute. It is called a Mobile Manufacturing Unit (MMU).

The project began in 2009 and now 17 of the vehicles are deployed at various locations. One such unit is in operation at the Rustenburg platinum mine located just outside Modimole (previously called Potgieterus) in the northern Limpopo Province.

Safety precautions are evident in all operations at the site. Activity on the site is constantly accomplished at a measured and controlled pace.

The MMU consisting of the Volvo 8x4 chassis and the plant superstructure works steadily across the bench which

Cobus Vermaak on site

Photographs courtesy of Rod Taylor

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Blasting News Second Quarter 2012

AEL cutting edge

has already been drilled with blast holes.

The holes, drilled in a V pattern across the bench, can be any size but up to a maximum diameter of 311mm. The spacing and pattern of the holes depends on the burden of rock to be shifted. About 800 – 1000 kilograms is augered into each hole. Vermaak stated that 4000 tonnes of explosives is prepared in an average month by one MMU. It is in fact called a “down-thehole service.”

“This method of producing applicationspecific explosives at customer operations is extremely cost efficient, as it allows for total flexibility, as well as last minute changes on the bench to suit the different mines' blasting requirements.” He adds that the MMUs are backed up by a comprehensive range of engineering and support

services to ensure that the best blast result is achieved. In fact the people on site include the AEL maintenance artisan, Koos de Beer who travels daily from Polokwane to the mine and his colleague Dewald Saaiman who is the Field Services Superintendant. Mine employee Hennie Swanepoel works closely with the AEL team to ensure a smooth co-operation between the mine itself and the AEL service.

plant along with the time taken to manufacture, also we have worked hard at reducing the overall fabrication of the unit without compromising the quality, safety and life span of the MMUs.” He went on to describe the safety feature that ensures the plant is protected for spillage in a roll-over situation and to re-emphasise that the trucks are ideal for rugged conditions in quarrying and surface mining operations.

“The Volvos stand out,” said Vermaak.

“They have a bigger capacity and a stronger chassis and are well specified to carry the 22 000 tonnes of load. They are a big player in the market and we are very happy with the excellent aftermarket support.”

The units have thoroughly tested to SABS standards, road-tanker legislation as well as the internationally recognised US-based ADR standard.

Vermaak explained that the research and development around the MMU's has been ongoing. “We are always working to reduce the number of parts in the

This recognition allows AEL to tender and deliver on a global basis. Currently AEL has a fleet of over 200 MMUs in the field in South Africa, Botswana, DRC, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Egypt, Kenya, as well as in Indonesia.

Reprinted with permission from Volvo South Africa (Pty) Ltd

The MMU (Volvo FH 8x4) and the AEL team working steadily across the bench

Blasting News Second Quarter 2012

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AEL forward thinking

Blast design for long term pit stability using the Hybrid Stress Blasting Model

- Dr Ewan Sellers

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magine if you were blasting on a surface mine and the instant after you pressed the button to initiate the blast, ten million tons of rock were shaken and started to slip out of the pit slope into the pit.

Such a failure could cause loss of life or equipment and will definitely compromise the production on the mine while the team performs remediation.

Even if the mine could dig out the waste rock and extract any equipment without endangering people there will be significant costs incurred by the mine.

Blasters are usually focussed on the removal of the rock within the pit to drive production and seldom consider the dollar value of the long term stability to the mine and its owners. On the other hand, Geotechnical or Rock Engineers are required to support the excavation to ensure the short term safety of the miners and maintain the viability of the mining company by protecting the long term stability of the

entire mine and yet they have limited means to predict how the blast dynamics will affect the pit walls.

Position of PPV measurement Previous bench excavated

Figure 1. Model of trim blast

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Proper blast design software can be used to facilitate the work of both the blasters and the rock engineers.

Damage is defined as fractures that are created in the final wall by the blast that can extend or slip and cause time dependent weakening of the slope. Any reduction in damage to the excavation during the blast limits the over break and hence minimises the material that must be removed and at the same time prevents unravelling of the rock

surrounding the excavation.

This allies the two disciplines to consider the value of improved production and long term stability simultaneously. In both disciplines there is a need for the ability to predict the effect of blasting on the rock mass.

The realisation of the importance of including the proper dynamic rock mechanics, linked with accurate detonation physics into blast design software, resulted in an international group of mining and explosive companies including AEL combining

Blasting News Second Quarter 2012

AEL forward thinking

Breaking rock with meticulous care

concrete cube blasts and simulations of well instrumented field tests in Kimberlite. The measured and predicted face velocities, peak particle velocities and fragmentation agree remarkably well using very generic rock and blast input parameters so we feel that the modelling can be applied to full scale blasts.

A recent paper at the Southern Hemisphere Rock Engineering Symposium was presented to illustrate how the model can be applied to studies of wall control.

Open pit mine - Venetia

with the University of Queensland and Itasca Consulting Group to form a research group to develop the Hybrid Stress Blasting Model (HSBM).

The term hybrid refers to the way that a combination of numerical methods is used to model the various blast processes. Once the model has been validated against realistic blasts, it can be applied with more confidence to modelling of unknown situations.

Validation of the code to date has focused on breakage and fragmentation in laboratory scale experiments, larger

Blasting News Second Quarter 2012

The model is able to inform blasters and rock engineers about the extent and degree of damage caused by blasting. A model was developed of a trim blast in Kimberlite at a large open pit mine as shown in FIGURE 1. A section through the model after 200ms is shown in FIGURE 2 for the cases of no presplit and with 38mm cartridges in a 165mm blast hole.

The case without presplit shows excessive back break, which will undermine the final wall leading to later collapses. When the presplit is taken with 38mm cartridges the split forms cleanly and there is limited damage formed into the remaining high wall. The model predicts different fragmentation patterns in jointed rock and the next steps are to study the way

that joints within the rock mass dynamically respond to blasting.

The current validation project will be completed by the end of 2012 and aims to compare these insightful models with more field tests to improve the confidence of Blasters or Rock Engineers that they can correctly predict how to minimise damage to the rock that is left behind and ensure the long term availability of the pit for production of value for the mine's shareholders.

AEL is proud to now offer our customers this insight and use of HSBM for future projects.

Contact Dr. Ewan Sellers for further information: ewan.sellers@aelms.com

(a)

(b)

Figure 2. Slice through model in plan after 200ms (blast time) a) no presplit b) with 38mm decoupled charges.

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AEL forward thinking

What is the real cost of poor drilling?

M Mthalane, M Kotze and E Sellers

A

blast auditing project was done on an open pit in South Africa to monitor the drilling accuracy of the boreholes using a borehole survey instrument. The study was aimed at comparing the effect of drilling inaccurate versus accurate boreholes on fragmentation results under similar mining conditions. Split™ Software was used to analyse the fragmentation photos. The method used involves taking photos and analysing them with the Split™ desktop programme with care taken to manually correct the image delineation.

There is always an understanding that this is an approximate method, but can provide representative results if manual delineation is performed. Due to the hole depths of more than 30m, the survey process is time consuming.

With the limited time available fifteen holes on the bench were randomly selected to be surveyed to give an overall view of the condition of the blast holes as drilled on two benches.

Based on the data from the survey drilling 80%On of bench the holes deflected more than 10 percent of the burden. On the second bench, care was taken to improve drilling and only 40% of the holes deflected more than 10% of burden.

There were no boulders experienced on either blast. With improved drilling, the mean fragment size decreased from 242.3mm to 188.5mm and the uniformity index (n) improved from 0.89 to 1.24. Figure 1 shows the significant difference in the fragment size distribution between the two cases. The blast with holes drilled more accurately had a fragment size reduction of approximately 22% in

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particle size for the P50 passing size; 30% for the P80 passing size; and 30% for the top size passing sizes. Thus the fragment size was reduced substantially when the holes were drilled accurately. No significant difference was found in both shots for the P20 size range between 51.7mm to 54.8mm.

reduced and so the energy required is also reduced. Then, the financial risk equals the difference in energy required between the case of poor drilling and poor uniformity and the case of good drilling and good uniformity (where the energy of crushing has to be expended anyway) multiplied by the cost of energy.

Nowadays, mines are required to quantify the risk of their mining practices and managers would like a Dollar or Rand value to quantify the possibility of any occurrence. The case study provides a vehicle for investigating the risk of poor quality fragmentation on the financial performance of the mine. Risk is usually expressed as the probability of failure times consequence. One consequence of poor fragmentation must be seen in the additional cost of energy used in crushing and milling.

We selected a typical value for the work requirement of Norite rock of 20kWh/t and a cost of electrical energy of $0.101/kWh. Then, for a blast consisting of 7 rows of 100 holes, the amazing result is that the 33% decrease in uniformity factor (n) due to the poor drilling causes a 37% increase in the 80% passing fragmentation, which in turn due to the cumulative nonlinearity of the Bond equation leads to a fourteen fold increase in financial risk. Thus, good drilling would save about $6500 in energy costs for this blast alone.

We used the third theory of comminution developed by Bond as a simple estimate of the energy consumption during beneficiation.

This calculates the energy required to crush rock by comparing the 80% values of the feed size to the product size. By improving the uniformity index the 80% passing of the feed size is

Consider how this saving would accumulate over a year with blasting a few times per week and then ask yourself why you would allow poor drilling practices on your mine?

AEL owns the Split™ software that can assist mining houses with these predictions, at a nominal fee.

Figure 1

Blasting News Second Quarter 2012

AEL innovation

Making Headway in Safely Transporting Sensitive Materials

S

afety, production and transportation of sensitive materials are key elements in the explosives market, and today, extracting minerals requires sophisticated and ongoing innovations as mining resources becomes more challenging.

AEL's dedicated Research and Development (R&D) department was formed to develop cutting edge commercial explosives and initiating systems for the mining industry. “To provide world class technologies and mining solutions, we need to understand the trends that are present in the industry. We have expanded our footprint to develop solutions for a wide range of applications and mining methods, that is why it is important that our solutions are innovative and on par with what the industry requires,” says Dr Piet Halliday, Group Technology Executive Director at AEL. As a leader in mining solutions and operating in the export market, we acknowledge the challenges that come with transporting and moving sensitive products on a global scale due to the complexities of a multitude of regulations and legislation.

“Transporting sensitive products is also expensive in terms of running costs and insurance. Companies in the explosives industry are always under scrutiny and legislation now dictates non-toxic and non-lead products from companies such as AEL,” notes Halliday.

In a bid to abide by these laws, some five years ago, AEL decided to move away from using toxic materials and develop products that are insensitive to accidental detonation to overcome

Blasting News Second Quarter 2012

Stuart Wade, Dr. Piet Halliday and Wayne Du Chenne at the opening of the upgraded lab

security and safety challenges and to facilitate classification when transporting these goods.

According to Halliday, one of the projects that AEL has been working on for several years is the development of non-lead based pyrotechnic system with the University of Pretoria. “We are currently in an advanced stage of developing a detonator that has a non-detonable base charge, which provides a case for moving products around the globe without limitations.

Another exciting project is the work we are doing with overseas universities and industry experts to develop a cost effective state of the art track-and-trace system using novel materials, which can be encoded with necessary data in bulk emulsions and the detonator systems to allow tracking of where and when product has been manufactured and where it is going. Once complete, this solution will go a long way globally to assist the explosives' supply chain and address security, safety and accountability,” adds Halliday.

AEL's Research and Development (R&D)

department has recently upgraded their analytical laboratory based in Modderfontein at a cost of R20-million, equipped with the latest and best explosive–specific analytical devices.

“We now have the ability to gain a full understanding of the composition of our complete product range.

From a commercial point of view, we now have up-to-date equipment and a wellequipped technical staff. We can do basic analysis and we also do more complex analysis, such as crystal measurement, and, with the new, more sophisticated equipment, we can measure minimum burning pressures of water-based explosives and even analyse the rheology of pyrotechnical powders,” states Halliday.

With this state of the art, fully licensed analytical laboratory, AEL is able to conduct extensive research into the development of new and exciting innovative explosive products for the mining industry.

Yet another first in ensuring we meet and exceed the needs of our customers.

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AEL Zambia a model of indigenous efficiency Thinus Bierman

A

EL's Zambian operation is the hub for the entire Central African region. It is much more than a supplier to Zambia alone.

AEL Africa

“It is crucial that the supply chain for explosives works as efficiently as possible,” explains Thinus Bierman, Managing Director of AEL Zambia.

The importation of AEL products from South Africa has been developed into a smoothly operating business, in spite of a number of borders that have to be crossed.

Then from the Zambian AEL operation, a highly efficient network transports products to the various mines in central Africa. For example mining in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is expanding rapidly, and this DRC expansion is proving to be one of the significant sectors in the AEL Zambia operation.

It is this level of service that has seen AEL Zambia retaining a healthy market share in excess of 60%, in the face of some competition.

In terms of the products we stock,

AEL Zambia plant

Blasting News Second Quarter 2012

we can supply our clients with the complete range of AEL products.”

This also includes explosives services such as down-the-hole services, which use dedicated Mobile Manufacturing Units.

The Zambian operation has about 240 employees. However, Bierman explains that if one includes those employed by outsourced companies and security, the number swells to about 400.

“Naturally, we can offer advice and consultancy through our team of trained explosives and mining engineers,” says Bierman. Then the South African parent company is never further than a phone call away to solve the customer queries as well.

“In order to ensure that we have unmatched security of supply, we hold at any given time a substantial investment in inventory to the value

AEL team at conveyor belt in new PEX plant in Zambia

of millions of rands.”

With the echoes of the Chinese explosives factory disaster still in their ears, it is not surprising that Zambian mines are most concerned about safety.

“When it comes to safety, our record at AEL Zambia is world class. Last year, we operated for the entire year without a single injury,” explains Bierman. The Zambian AEL operation prides itself in that, in its observation of safety, it consistently exceeds the required safety standards.

“AEL Zambia is listed on the Zambian Stock Exchange, and it is the only company in the AEL Group that is so listed. This is because AEL Zambia is a strongly indigenous company, committed to the welfare of the country in which it operates,” concludes Bierman.

Lumwana aerial view

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Risk management = sustainable business

Risk Management

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Blasting News Second Quarter 2012

AEL safety first

Why Handle Explosives with Respect?

- Henry Merrick

Blasting News Second Quarter 2012

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New!

Proudly presenting our French mini-website Bonjour, Exciting developments as we proudly launch the AEL Mining Services French mini-website...

As a result of our business expansion and growth in French-speaking countries, we now present our company's value proposition and

differentiated offering in a language that the majority of our targeted customers in the French speaking areas can understand.

In the not-so-distant future, we will launch our Spanish and Portuguese mini-websites as we aim to better serve the needs of our stakeholders in Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking

countries.

Be the first to catch a glimpse of our French mini-site by visiting www.aelmining-fr.com or clicking on the French flag icon on our main website.

Merci

Click here on our website to follow the link

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Blasting News Second Quarter 2012

Wealth Unearthed Contact Directory International

Southern Africa Cape Town (T) +27 21 842 3901

Nelspruit (T) +27 13 747 2278

Botswana (T) +267 393 8133

Tanzania (T) +255 28 250 2927

East London (T) +27 43 745 2169

O’Kiep (T) +27 27 713 8597

Chile (T) +562 928 1300

Zambia (T) +260 966 990 945/9

Johannesburg (T) +27 11 606 0000

Rustenburg Bushveld (T) +27 14 594 9300

DRC (T) +243 99 5366 257

Zimbabwe (T) +263 429 16 315

Kimberley (T) +27 53 802 6352

Steelpoort (T) +27 13 230 3201

Egypt

Klerksdorp (T) +27 18 477 1062

Venetia Mine (T) +27 15 575 2335

Ghana (T) +233 302 762 633

Kwa-Zulu Natal (T) +27 31 266 4303

Welkom (T) +27 57 352 4073

Indonesia (T) +6221 7592 4498

Mokopane (T) +27 15 491 1373

West Wits Sales (T) +27 18 788 3390

Lesotho (T) +27 11 606 0505

Mogalakwena (T) +27 15 418 2189

Witbank / Emalahleni (T) +27 13 690 1242

Mauritius (T) +230 269 1650

Mankwe (T) +27 14 558 2803 Blasting News Second Quarter 2012

(T) +20 178 661 138

Namibia (T) +264 64 403 463 19