July 2013

BlastingNewsVOLUME 22 ISSUE 2 2013

IN THIS ISSUE

• Breaking New Ground – New record set with the most detonators used successfully in one blast

• Enhancing Safety in Mining and leading the way in Underground Bulk Systems

• Young group of artisans a step closer to success

• AEL makes its mark at 1st Cameroon International Mining Exhibition & Conference

Wealth UnearthedPrinted on 100% eco friendly paper

Blasting News I Second Quarter 20132

Contents

Breaking New Ground – New record set with the most detonators used successfully in one blast 3

Enhancing Safety in Mining and leading the way in Underground Bulk Systems 4,5

Committed to developing the next generation of skilled artisans 6

Young group of artisans a step closer to success 6

AEL makes its mark at 1st Cameroon International Mining Exhibition & Conference 7

A scientific perspective of blasting in hot holes and reactive ground 8-12

Re-Launch - Surface Blast Handbook 13

News in brief 14

Contact Directory 15

Contact Details

Eubulus PillayBlasting News Editor

Tel: +27 11 606 0313Fax: +27 11 605 0000Email: [email protected]: www.aelminingservices.com

We have included a free pull-out of Explosive Today issue 4 for your informative reading.

DisclaimerThis 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.


Editor’s note

Welcome to the mid-year issue of Blasting News themed “Customer Value Add”.

AEL is a world-class mining services company with global technologies that create wealth and growth in South African, African and selected international markets. AEL has over a century of expertise and knowledge in developing ground-breaking and innovative blasting solutions that are designed to add value to our customers.

One of our key drivers is improving levels of safety within the mining industry. In this issue, we showcase how we are leading the way in Underground Bulk Systems for narrow reef mining to enhance safety in mining.

We share news of another one of our successes where a new record was achieved for the most detonators used successfully in one blast at the Kolomela Iron Ore mine in the Northern Cape.

We take pleasure in presenting Simon Tose, Group Consulting Mining Engineer’s latest paper entitled A Scientific Perspective of Blasting in Hot Holes and Reactive Ground.

Learn more about how AEL is embarking on the launch of its compliance programme in our South Africa, Africa and International operations to demonstrate our commitment to upholding the law, ethical behaviour, and instilling stakeholder confidence in our operations.

We display how AEL has gone the extra mile in its CSI initiatives by extending a helping hand to students at the University of Pretoria who are the next generation of geologists.

Under our Thought Leadership banner, we offer you the 4th issue of our successful series of our technically-driven customer publication, Explosives Today which is included as a pull-out for your convenience. To support our customers in the surface mining operations, we have compiled The Surface Blasting Handbook, a practical reference guide for blasting on surface mining operations.

Thank you for being part of our loyal readership. If you would like to subscribe to Blasting News to receive your free copies, visit our website www.aelminingservices.com and fill in the subscription form located under the Publications tab in the News & Media portal.

Eubulus

Blasting News I Second Quarter 2013 3

AEL Record

Breaking New Ground – New record set with the most detonators used successfully in one blastOn the 27th of March 2013, the African record for the largest number of DigiShot™ Plus detonators fired simultaneously in one blast was surpassed.

Kumba Iron Ore requested that AEL fire a Calcrete blast containing 2,686 holes in the newly opened Klipbankfontein pit at Kolomela Iron Ore mine in the Northern Cape.

There was a tight deadline as the blast had to be completed in five days otherwise the mine would have run out of loading material. This in itself would cost millions. However, eager to take on the challenge, Dawid Muller and his crew worked on the blast in temperatures ranging from 32 to 36 degrees Celsius.

A few mechanical breakdowns on the delivery vehicles hampered their progress but not their determination. They managed to load an average of approximately 670 holes per day over 4 days. The fifth day was used for final connections and testing.

The sheer size of the blast introduced some additional risk. However, the methodical approach adopted by Dawid Muller which has aided him in firing numerous large DigiShot™ Plus blasts minimised this risk.

The motivation for using DigiShot™ Plus in a shallow waste blast was that because of the size of the blast cut-offs could not be risked when using Shock Tube alternatives. AEL have been conducting trials at Kolomela since October 2012

The perfect blast


The group involved in the blast

and have regularly fired DigiShot™ Plus blasts in excess of 1,000 holes. In fact a combined blast with 2,276 holes was fired three weeks before. The product has regularly outperformed competitor products and has become the electronic detonator of choice employed in critical blasts.

Loading was completed on the 26th. The final stemming and tie-in was done on the 27th and the blast fired on schedule at 14:30 that afternoon. The product performed well, leaving a very satisfied client.

The ease with which this size blast was completed indicates a winning recipe.


Relaunch

Leading the way in Underground Bulk Systems to enhance safety in mining



Enhancing safety and reducing risk is one of the major drivers behind AEL Mining Services constantly striving towards creating innovative technological advancements in the mining industry that better promote safety in the workplace and aim to reduce the exposure to risk.

With this in mind, the first quarter of 2013 has seen AEL Mining Services roll-out three new service offerings targeted at the deep level mining industry with a view to improving levels of safety for those working within the mining industry.

One such offering includes AEL’s underground bulk system (UBS) for narrow reef mining, comprising of three components which includes bagged emulsions, a sensitising agent and a pumping mechanism.

“These products are expected not only to result in safer operations for the mining companies who choose to use them but will also prove effective in showing a substantial improvement in bottom-line revenue objectives through the enhancements to operational efficiency, production costs and a reduction in man power,” explains Johan Duvenhage, Managing Director for Gold and Uranium at AEL Mining Services.

A notable part of this service offering is the Portable Charging Unit (PCU010) Pneumatic Stope Pump which was launched recently at the 2012 Electra Mining Expo.

“AEL has been aiming to enhance safety

in mining by introducing an emulsion only environment and eliminate the dangers associated with transporting explosives down the shaft. As a result, the PCU 010 works by converting chemicals into explosives at the blast site, eliminating the risk of transporting explosives down mine shafts, which, in turn, improves safety, mining logistics and over time, yields costs savings. This is a significant development, especially for the gold mining industry,” explains Duvenhage.

The emulsion matrix and sensitizer that AEL Mining Services produces are loaded into separate tanks in the pump, after which they are combined in the pumping action, to form a sensitized explosive product. “A static mixer at the end of the charging hose and lance ensures the final product is well mixed, which produces a consistent quality explosive to improve blast performance,” says Mark Cross Product Manager at AEL Mining Services.

He adds that by installing a series of these pumps, customers will be able to cover their whole mining operation at a relatively low cost, making it feasible to convert the whole mine to such emulsion units.

“Before launching the pump, AEL conducted extensive testing underground which provided a wealth of knowledge and experience.” Furthermore, Cross says the new robust and reliable unit also has a built in bursting disc as an additional safety feature to protect against over pressurization of the emulsion matrix. “It also has fewer working parts, compared with previous products, which means that minimal spares are required and lead time for manufacturing and maintenance is substantially reduced.”

He mentions that the PCU010 weighs just over 30 kg, is 1 054 mm long, 521 mm wide and 388 mm high, with a flow rate of 20 kg/min. The emulsion tank has a capacity of 15 kg and the sensitizer tank has a capacity of 2 kg. The unit includes a 5 m hose and a static mixer is available in various lengths. “These dimensions make the AEL pump compact, easy-to-use and apt for small spaces in the narrow reef environment,” says Cross.

The PCU010 pump has already received positive response from local and international industry members who attended the trade show. “The pump can be used on all narrow veins and could also be suited to civil trenching, small quarry work, secondary blasting and small-diameter hole blasting on the surface.

The PCU010 is a pump that needs to be fed with explosives. The traditional rate at which explosives are transported to the face of the mines is three days. “However, with AEL’s newly developed UBS, time is saved by not having to close the shaft for explosives transportation (as this product is not classed as an explosive in transport mode) and

more work can be done, which increases productivity,” explains Duvenhage.

Duvenhage adds that illegal mineworkers, especially in the Free State, have been a challenge to the company, given the increased pilferage of explosives from the mines. “With the UBS this cannot happen, given the in-line mixer and gassing solution is controlled on surface and the product only becomes an explosive once it is mixed through the lance at the stope face underground.”

Further, mines currently use extensive manual labour to transport explosives into areas where the product will be used, but with AEL’s UBS, mechanical transport into the workings can be used. “A further advantage of the system is that it reduces risk by minimising exposure time of blasting crews during charging time by as much as 40%. In that way, AEL’s new system further enhances the safety aspects of the system required by the mine,” says Duvenhague.

AEL offers a variety of options around such pumping systems to suit all mining applications to clients interested in its UBS systems. “We will collaborate with our customers to devise maintenance regimes that are suited to their operations and provide training to pump operators and maintenance personnel,” concludes Cross.

Furthermore, AEL also has a specialised team of skilled and trained individuals who assist mines with production challenges underground. This team assists in training mine personnel ensuring safe, quality daily blasts by employing back-to-basics principles as well as the correct use and implementation of explosives products. “If we can get one worker to work ten times better, efficiency has increased by 10%. This is an initiative that we offer to all the mines with which we work,” says Duvenhage.

He also notes that the underground conditions in a mine can make visibility extremely poor, which proves a challenge when trying to maintain safety standards whilst dealing with dangerous, but necessary, products such as explosives.

Eliminating this problem is the bright green emulsion produced by the UBS pump together with the Vivid (High Visibility Shock Tube) which is now being produced in a ‘brilliant yellow’. These products are integral mining components that can now easily be spotted, further reducing the risk to miners who have to use them.

“In order for South Africa to meet international safety standards, all stakeholders in the industry need to be aware of the progress that is currently being made and adopt new practices to improve their risk profile and reduce inefficiencies,” concludes Duvenhage.

Johan Duvenhage - Managing Director, Gold and Uranium

Mark Cross - Product Manager

AEL Safety

Blasting News I


AEL Next Generation

The average age of competent artisans in South Africa is 55; meaning that specialised industries such as mining, chemical and industrial may face a significant skills crisis in the next five to

programmes in order to ensure the next generation is effectively trained. Many of the people who currently work in AEL Mining Services Engineering department were trained through our old apprenticeship programme.”

He says that the number of apprenticeships in South Africa has declined significantly since the advent of the Skills Development Act, which promotes learnerships rather than apprenticeships, both are hugely important to the economy. “Learnerships have tax breaks built into them to incentivise companies to implement such initiatives, thankfully Government is now also promoting apprenticeships.”

Unfortunately the learnership scheme does not provide the same competency of artisan skills as the apprenticeship which is a more theory and practical based training programme.

Dlamini says the number of South

Africans who wish to pursue this form of training programme is astounding, given the high rate of youth unemployment. “AEL alone receives hundreds of applications each year, but we are only able to take on a limited amount, so we would urge all companies in the mining, chemical and industrial fields to consider implementing such schemes.”

“It is hugely important that all South African companies commit to investing in developing our human resources. Several other companies had successful training programmes prior to 1999, which trained hundreds of engineers and a similar concept could be rolled out in conjunction with CHIETA (Chemical Industries Education and Training Authority).

Dlamini says AEL Mining Services has a range of programmes including manufacturing learnerships, internships and apprenticeships that it runs on an annual basis.

Committed to developing the next generation of skilled artisans

THE CHIETA (Chemical Industries Educations and Training Authority) hosted its inaugural National Artisan Skills Competition 2012/13 to showcase the competency of the South African skilled human resources in Apprenticeship, Learnership and Vocational Skills Programmes.

The competition was open to all South African citizens from across all economic sectors. For the 2012/13 competition the following trades or Engineering Learnerships were prioritised:

o Electrician trade or Electrician Learnership

o Instrument Mechanical trade or Instrument Mechanical Learnership

o Fitter trade or Fitter Learnership

AEL supported the participation of four of its employees: Quinton Klopper, Palesa Mkize , Lerato Pule and Mandla Sibiya. The competition comprised three rounds. During the first round held during October 2012, candidates had to complete the theoretical computer-

Young group of artisans a step closer to success

based assessment at selected regional centres. Successful candidates went on to participate in the second round which took place in February this year, where they had to complete a theoretical and practical project assessment.

All AEL candidates made it through the first round and represented AEL in the second round of the competition with

AEL Equipment Services department’s Lerato Pule, proud winner at the 2nd round of the CHIETA Artisans Skills

Competition.

Quinton Klopper, Palesa Mkize, Lerato Pule and Mandla Sibiya who

represented AEL in the 2nd round of the CHIETA national skills competition.

Lerato Pule winning a trophy during the second round. Round three of the competition is scheduled to take place in June and the candidates will be required to complete a theoretical, practical project and panel assessment at a national venue in Gauteng.

We wish AEL participants the best of luck!

ten years if more potential learners and apprentices are not trained in these vital areas.

This is according to Mdu Dlamini, Organisational Development Manager at AEL Mining Services, who says this is concerning as there is already a dearth of skills available in South Africa.

“It is critical that companies conceptualise and implement viable apprenticeship and learnership

Mdu Dlamini - Organisational Development Manager



AEL Partnerships

CIMEC 2013, the 1st Cameroon International Mining Exhibition & Conference took place from 29 – 31 May 2013 at the Palais des Congrès, Yaoundé, in Cameroon. The event was organised by the Ministry of Industries Mines and Technological Development in association with AME Trade Ltd. It comprised a three-day conference and exhibition as well as a post-event visit to some of Cameroon’s key mining sites.

CIMEC 2013 gathered international investors, mining experts, directorsof financial institutions, Cameroonian decision makers, development partnersand other key stakeholders in the mining industry.

The event themed “Sustainably developing Cameroon’s mineral resources for the benefit of future generations” had 334 official delegates, 62 exhibition stands and more than 400

visitors per day. Ibrahim Abba Kantao and Ibrahim Body-Lawson represented AEL at the event.

Visitors at the AEL exhibition stand included government officials from the Ministry of Mines, service providers, university students, and competitors (MAXAM, EPC Group and Yavascalar) and other mining companies (Camiron Sundance Resources, Reservoir Minerals and Camina Mining).

Cameroon is one of Africa’s most exciting new mining destinations rich in significant and varied minerals.

Geological data from intensive exploration and previous mining inventories available resulted in the discovery of commercial iron ore deposits in Mbalam, Nkout and Kribi; bauxite in Ngaoundal, Minim Martapand and Fongo Tondo; nickel-cobalt in Lomie ; uranium

in Polie and Lolodorf; gold in the Batouri and Batare districts and diamonds in the Eastern region of Mobilng.

The event presented an opportunity for AEL to network with key decision makers from the industry and government, learn from focused knowledgeable subject matter experts and leading players and gain strategic, operational and technical insight.

The team promoted AEL’s products and services amongst a predefined audience and relayed relevant information on our latest innovative technological solutions that could assist in achieving efficiency.

AEL’s participation in the event ensured relationship building with key decision makers in the Cameroonian Mining industry and our commitment to doing business in Cameroon.

AEL makes its mark at 1st Cameroon International Mining Exhibition & Conference


AEL Blasting Science

Simon Tose, Group Consulting Mining Engineer, Blast Optimisation has represented AEL Mining Services at several international key symposia, conferences and colloquiums over the years.

Simon has delivered excellent presentations, which have been widely praised by delegates. One of his recent visits was to New Delhi, India where he attended the 10th International Symposium on Rock Fragmentation by Blasting “FRAGBLAST 10” held during 24 – 29 November 2012. The Fragblast Symposia represent the most important events in disseminating the latest advances in the science and technology of rock fragmentation by blasting and other related means.

Blasting News presents an extract from Simon’s paper entitled A SCIENTIFIC PERSPECTIVE OF BLASTING IN HOT HOLES AND REACTIVE GROUND which was published at the Fragblast 10 conference.

The use of explosives to break rock is an intrinsically hazardous process. These hazards have been studied over the years and modern mining methods have evolved to minimise the inherent risks of blasting under most conditions.

AEL Mining Services (AEL) has tested and developed ways to ensure safety and ease of selection of explosives and initiating systems in situations where a specific additional hazard may exist.

These hazards are either due to the possible unwanted reaction between an explosive and the rock being blasted, or where the rock, such as coal, is on fire and burning.

In such situations, without the clear understanding of the risk, these unwanted reactions may result in premature detonations with potentially fatal results.

A scientific perspective of blasting in hot holes and reactive groundBy Simon Tose: Group Consulting Mining Engineer, AEL Mining Services, South Africa



For example, the gold mining operations in the Free State Gold Mines in South Africa are operating somewhere around about 1000 to 2500m below the surface with a virgin rock temperature around 30 to 40˚C. As we go to increasing depth to recover gold, below 3500m, such as the Western Deep Levels, we encounter rock temperatures of 55˚C+. Interestingly because of the igneous nature of platinum ore bodies the rock temperature of 55˚C are achieved around 1500m.

The management and control of the working air temperatures as a result of these rock temperatures, in such deep level gold mines and platinum mines, are much more complex than in shallow mines such as coal.

If we look at the surface mining operations, typically the rock temperature are around 25˚C or less, making our biggest problem the air temperatures we operate in, because these temperatures can get beyond 40˚C+. In terms of underground, the control of temperatures are usually aligned to the humidity with wet bulb of 30˚C +.

In these types of hostile environments, AEL’s explosive products and initiating systems have been well designed to operate safely in these temperature ranges.

In fact, the biggest safety problem is with people rather than explosive and initiating systems. We need to manage and observe possible heat stroke elements both underground and on surface. Additional hazards of the sun, such as sun stroke and sun burn, also exist for our surface operators. So in terms of non-reactive ground and ambient temperatures, our primary concern is the safety and environmental management of people and equipment.

Furthermore, we are now getting a situation where the rock itself will react to the chemical components of the explosive mixture. When it reacts to the explosive mixture, events may happen.The first thing is to understand this is not a unique situation. AEL operates outside of Southern Africa where typically

we don’t have situations where a rock contains more than 1% sulphides.

As soon as you get into Africa and beyond, the copper sulphides and the massive iron ore bodies means we need to start considering and managing the potential reaction of the rock to the explosives. This situation is typically found in many types of rock, particularly the pyrite type rock and the black shale rocks that are typical of some of the South East Asia areas.

The rock reacts to the explosive generating a chemical reaction, which can generate extreme heat because it is an exothermic reaction. As it is an uncontrolled process this can rapidly cause a temperature spike and lead to a possible premature detonation.

When we have a reactive ground situation, the signs are the explosives bubbling out of the top of the blast hole, foaming, as well as fumes - if this is left and not controlled, then ultimately one could get to an explosion.

AEL has a well-established in-house testing facility where we take samples of the rocks and grind them down to a powder. These samples are then subjected to a controlled situation and interfaced with a computer.

Typical results from the computer analysis are a number of graphs. If we compare a non-reactive sample, there is no reaction with the explosive mix to the rock sample. However when there is a reactive sample there is a rapid rise in temperature, which can lead to potential detonation of the explosive product itself.

Fortunately AEL has developed a safe solution to this problem by using urea-based explosives.

The safety key is to identify reactive ground, choose the right explosive solution for the problem and then use the detonators normally in a safe manner to get the desired result.

In the case where there is burning ground, the ground is not reacting with



the explosives but rather there is a burning fire underground. The explosives used in this situation are subjected to an open heat source and/or extreme fluctuations to temperature.

What we often observe with these burning fires is that it is a coal-based problem associated with the organic content of shales or mudstones.

If you look across the world as a whole we are not unique in this problem of burning fires: Africa, Australia with its coal reserves, South East Asia and a broad brand across Central Europe and Canada suffer the risk in terms of fire’s and potential fires.

Out of interest, in the South African market it is currently estimated that 30% of the coal field is on fire. Obviously we can’t afford to let the fires burn because of the great economic value losses; so the key is to look at ways of extinguishing the fire and recovering the remaining coal whilst blasting safely in these rock environments.

Coal fires are typically associated

with old mine workings. What happened in South Africa is that they operated originally with an underground bord and pillar methodology, with a switch later to a surface operation.

The old workings, in time, collapse and allow for an egress of oxygen and water. The air and water enter into the workings through cracks, fissures and other openings and start reacting with the coal and metals, (acid) resulting in fire.

This is self-propagating because obviously we have coal, which is a fuel source and as it burns the pillars fail and the ground collapses on top of it.

This also leaves us with an additional safety concern over the economic loss of the coal: the creation of sinkholes on surface.

One of the major controls is to stop the inflow of air and water into the mine workings. The cladding of a highwall, with sand, closes the old workings. This effectively restricts the oxygen and smothers the fire.

Figure 4: Graphical output identifying reactive ground

Once the fire is stopped there is still a potential for heat in the blast zone due to the possibility of drilled holes intersecting the old workings and further opportunity for ingress of water and air. These can be managed through cooling and controlled to a certain degree that now allows us to come in and work more safely under a set of guidelines.

The next step is to blast quickly, as the broken ore closes the remaining voids, rids the oxygen and smothers the fire. Once this has happened, one has to load the coal out, which still creates the possibility of a rush of air back into the workings meaning it can rapidly catch fire again.

The important thing from AEL’s point of view is good planning: a minimum number of people on bench, as well as determining who and what equipment is going to be on the bench to tackle this special blasting type.

Next one has to understand how hot the hot hole is and how to manage that hole in terms of AEL’s products and explosive



loading process. The primary step is to cool these drilled holes, pumping water and cooling agents onto the problem. AEL’s recent investigations to improve existing ‘best practices’ to try to resolve this problem follow a fatality in 2009. We had to revisit the issues to understand what the current rules were based on and how to improve them to prevent any further fatalities.

Sadly what happened in the fatality was that the explosive charging crew had seen some fumes coming from a blast hole. They made an on bench decision to abandon the blast hole and demarcated it as abandoned. For unknown reasons, the blaster decided to go back to inspect the blast hole. An unplanned detonation occurred and it killed him. Fortunately his six colleagues who were on the bench at the same time only sustained minor injuries.

The key factor here is that the combination of explosives and burning coal has the potential to kill. We need to understand what could have prevented that person going back and re-examining the hole to ensure that explosives are only detonated in a controlled and planned manner.

When analysing the risks, the first step was to revisit the rules, which stated that a hot hole blast was determined at 40˚C, a blast needed to be fired at 60˚C, and a blast greater than 80˚C was a no go. (Figure 5.)

We learnt:

• 40˚C wasn’t cast in concrete, what we needed was a method in the blast design process to say when do I trigger the determination of a hot blast?

• The 80˚C was a little easier to understand if you considered the pentolite booster. Pentolite is manufactured around 80˚C in a liquid or semi-liquid state. So you can imagine that top upper number is really based around the explosive products themselves.

• The next thing we investigated was the temperature at which our detonators operate safely. The maximum of 90˚C fitted the discussion earlier regarding the virgin rock temperature slides. Detonators operate comfortably in a stable environment of 40 to 60˚C. (Mid-point!)

This became key in the scenario of safely operating in burning ground – remove all the detonators from the blast holes themselves and out of the design equation.We now understand the rules in a sense of no detonators in holes above 40˚C. The next “weak” link in the explosive detonation process was to move the booster away from the potential heat source.

Rather than toe priming, the best position for the booster was mid to the top (collar) of the hole. The explosive mixture would insulate the booster from the heat source and open the time window to allow controlled charging of the explosive.

Figure 5. Analysis of risk factors



AEL then needed customers to look at possible alternatives to the PETN booster; one such alternative was RDX boosters and cords.

This allowed us to shift the temperature differential, instead of possibly losing boosters around 80 to 85˚C, they could effectively move to an operational range of 100 to 150˚C.

• The key was to remember we are we not going to move that 40˚C safety mark, but rather creating a bigger differential between a lower temperature and higher temperature, which allows more time to work safely and complete the explosive charging process.

• The size of the blast was limited to the amount of explosives that could be reasonably delivered by the Mobile Manufacturing Unit, MMU, available during a single shift. (No more than 8 hours).

• Nature also provides us with some early warnings. Initially we see the water vapour start evaporating out of the explosives. (100oC) Somewhere around 200˚ to

250˚C, smoke changes from white to grey to brown nitrous type fumes as the more volatile explosive products break down.

In a single blast hole situation this is great, it’s very easy to observe but there is lots of smoke and it is difficult to identify holes changing in terms of temperature and responding to temperature below the ground.

As a result, we had to determine what is happening to our explosives mixture under a heating scenario.

During testing at AEL’s range facilities with international-based test standards, we cooked the explosives off with a direct heat source. We determined that our explosives were detonating at +200˚C with a detonator involved.

The moment we took out the detonator of the explosive equation one looks at going beyond 200˚C - in fact some of our newer explosive products now go up to 280˚ in this type of test environment for 8 hours.

These tests enabled us to better understand our products and assist our customers to build the charging procedures at the mine themselves.

The key to understanding AEL’s matrix, for both our customers and ourselves, is to determine what operational situation we are dealing with:

• A non-reactive situation, in which case it is a normal conventional blast design with an art of a spectacular finish

• When moving into reactive ground, AEL has solutions in using appropriate and suitable explosives, which allow the use of detonators.

• In burning ground, we need to adopt the correct mining method by removing the detonators out of the situation. Move the booster away from the heat source and charge with continuous in hole temperature monitoring.


AEL Re-launch

AEL is proud to introduce the new series of the Surface Blasting Handbook “What every Miner should know about Surface Blasting”The Surface Blasting Handbook has been used with great enthusiasm as a reference guide in mine blasting training syllabi since it was first published.

In line with our value proposition of Thought Leadership and a move to revive the publication, AEL has replaced these treasured copies with a new series. This new edition authored and tailored by our Mining Optimisation team, has been revised to provide greater emphasis on the answers to critical questions that the Blaster encounters both during his day-to-day blasting activities and during unusual situations.

This is a practical reference guide for blasting on surface mining operations.

This technically driven customer publication is now available on order. This booklet compiled by AEL Mining Optimisation, is the first in our new series of “What every Miner should know”. Based on practical experience, this answers most of the questions a miner might ask on the use and application of AEL Mining Services range of explosives and initiating systems for Civil, Quarrying and Surface Mining blasting operations.

Advice on the most appropriate explosive and initiating products and their application in the specific mining area should be obtained from the AEL Mining Services Office, sales support and technical teams and/or the website www.aelminingservices.com

For more information and to order your copy, contact the Mining Optimisation Team c/o Simon Tose:

Tel: +27 11 606 0116Email: [email protected]

Order Now!

While Stocks Last!


AEL News in Brief

In an effort to continually develop and sustain the communities in which the business operates, AEL has gone the extra mile in its CSI initiative by extending a helping hand to the next generation of geologists at the University of Pretoria.

The sponsorship of shirts to the geology honours students was highly appreciated by these future industry specialists that have great interest in the mining industry.

Clothes like durable shirts are essential when students are out in the field, as normal clothes always need to be treated with special care so as to not soil them, thus resulting in the reduction of efficiency of the students.“We are very grateful to AEL for the donation.

AEL like many other multi-national organisations is faced with ever-increasing pressure regarding the complex responsibility of ensuring compliance, across a wide spectrum of issues, in carrying on our business locally and abroad. Not only are there legal imperatives that force effective compliance management but it is in the interests of good business to do so.

In demonstrating our commitment to upholding the law, ethical behaviour, and instilling stakeholder confidence in our operations, AEL is embarking on the launch of its compliance programme in our South Africa, Africa and International operations. The King 3 Code on Good Corporate Governance states “Compliance with applicable laws should be understood not only in terms of the obligations they create, but also for the rights and protection they afford.”

The purpose of the compliance programme will be to assist business in ensuring compliance to legislation, regulations, monitor, co-ordinate and report on compliance related issues to Line Management, Executive Management and the Board of Directors. Line Management will then in turn be responsible for the implementation of appropriate controls to manage gaps identified.

This would ultimately result in increasing the effectiveness of the management of compliance risk within the AEL Group.

AEL embarking on its Compliance programme

AEL extends a helping hand to the next generation of industry specialists

The shirts will be helpful in eliminating minor challenges experienced among students which are often caused by inappropriate clothing. Beyond that, they will be used as a group uniform which instils pride and integrity and also brings unity and builds team spirit.

With pride and integrity, one gains more confidence to shine and perform better since they feel that they are part of a team,” stated Mpho Selepe, Geology Honours Student, University of Pretoria.

“Good team spirit creates winners in every class. Thank you AEL Mining Services!”

NEWS

NEWS


Wealth Unearthed

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Indonesia(T) +6221 7592 4498

Mauritius(T) +230 269 1650

Namibia(T) +264 64 403 463

Tanzania(T) +255 22 277 1055

Zambia(T) +260 966 990 945/9

Zimbabwe(T) +263 479 0846

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