SUSTAINABILITY AND SAFETY IN THE EXPLOSIVES INDUSTRY

Explosives remain important components of day-to-day mining practices, as they have been for decades. However, in a world where the commitment to environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices is more crucial than ever, explosives manufacturers are now seeking more sustainable ways of conducting their business.

According to Enaex Africa’s CEO Francisco Baudrand, the Enaex Group has always maintained a focus on the principle of “safety first”. He says the Chilean-based group has 100 years of history, and is the third largest explosives group in the world – with Enaex Africa considered an important subsidiary.

“Safety first is built into the culture of the organisation, and is key to our focus on humanising mining. To this end, we have developed tele-operated mobile mixing units (MMUs) for opencast mining.

“Remember that when we talk sustainability, we understand that safety is a critical part of this. Thus these tele-operated units help us to remove people from the danger zone and improve their quality of life through better working conditions,” he says.

He notes that the company’s “safety first” culture goes beyond the norm, as Enaex Africa drives the message home to sta that safety is not only about being careful in the workplace, but also about being conscious and always considering safety at home.

“It is about inculcating a safety culture so that it becomes part of what you do and is habitual. This creates a successful culture and encourages safety as standard practice in all aspects of our people’s lives.”

The other benefit of such an approach, he says, is that by implementing the teleoperation of MMUs, “our employees then also have to be upskilled, so not only are they being made safer, but they are also improving their capabilities”.

Baudrand says the company has also undertaken successful trials of 100% teleoperated blasts in an underground context. This can be challenging in SA, where many mineral seams are “narrow reefs”.

Conditions in these unusual geological occurrences can be especially tough and unsafe. This is why Enaex has partnered with a local university to develop robotics specifically for dealing with narrow reefs.

TECHNOLOGY, COMPLIANCE AND ACCOUNTABILITY

“We have also introduced a locally produced electronic detonator system that enables users to programme blasting sequences in a way that minimises vibrations. Once again, this has a positive impact on the surrounding communities, which are o en negatively a ected by such vibrations. In addition, it increases both the reliability of the blasting and the quality of the rock fragmentation,” he says.

“Predictability is very important in blasting, as this provides an assurance of safety, as well as accurately executed operations. We use innovation – in the form of our MMUs – and robotics to enable this level of predictability. In the future, we aim to leverage autonomous vehicles and artificial intelligence to improve predictability even further.”

With higher levels of predictability, you are able to determine your blasting times and patterns more accurately, he explains, adding that Enaex wants to create a system that is 100% smart in this regard.

“Another solution we have introduced is known as plasma technology, which is a nonexplosive product designed to deliver a blast in a niche area. So, for example, if a blast is required close to the processing plant, you would use plasma, as it creates almost no vibration, and the required safe distance is only 50m, compared to the standard 500m for regular explosives.”

He notes that since this is a highly regulated industry, compliance is critical. To this end, Enaex utilises a safety, health and environment team to ensure that all operations are driven forward with absolute excellence – both in the mine environment and in the actual production of the explosives.

“Enaex doesn’t only want to implement

Gary Alfonso speaks to CEO of Enaex Africa, Francisco Baudrand about the company’s plans to embrace Artificial Intelligence, while also looking into incorporating sustainability within the organisation’s strategic objective. https://youtu.be/2U0RMa_6bko sustainable practices, but to continuously improve on them as it conducts operations, production and training.” He adds that they monitor and measure key performance indicators to further ensure accountability.

“We use the Dow Jones Sustainability Index as our benchmark, and have done so since 2016. Enaex is ranked in the top 10% of chemical industries globally, and since the index focuses on accurate reporting and good practices, it clearly demonstrates our considerable sustainability credentials,” he notes.

Through the company’s awareness, and implementation, of the correct processes, it has been able to lower the instances of danger from its products. Crucial to this is the joint venture between Enaex and Sasol – Enaex has acquired 51% of the Sasol explosives business – that allows the company to blend the best of both organisations’ approaches and processes to achieve superior levels of safety.

“The JV with Sasol has been in place since July 2020, and in April this year we obtained

Csi Equals Sustainability

Baudrand says Enaex Africa has three strong pillars to its corporate social investment (CSI) programme.

“Firstly, we collaborate and work in the communities where our production facilities are situated. Secondly, we look a er the communities that surround our customers, since many of them work in the mines themselves.”

He suggests that the third component of this strategy goes beyond traditional CSI. Here, Enaex has placed a key focus on education and early childhood development.

The company targets those communities that are not supported by other industries.

“For example, we have identified an early childhood development centre in Limpopo with 90 children aged between 10 months and five years, and aim to ensure they have the right levels of nutrition and learning opportunities to enable them to grow and develop properly.

“In addition, we have improved the infrastructure – upgrading it from pit toilets – as well as doubling its capacity, implementing solar energy and borehole water to get them o the grid, and even a playground for the children.

“This project includes upskilling the teachers and delivering some technology to the centre. The impact this has had is enormously positive on the children, the school, and the surrounding community. For us, this is just as crucial as any other work we do, as this focus is all about building an educated and skilled population for the future.” our BBBEE Level 2 compliance certification. This, we feel, is a true reflection of the transversal and transparent manner in which we are working to benefit the nation, its people, and the industry, and demonstrates our true commitment to sustainability in SA,” says Baudrand.