There is increasing pressure to reduce the carbon footprint in mining environments and other industries throughout the globe, in a bid to fight against climate change.

With this and other factors in mind, AEL Mining Services, an international leader and innovator in commercial explosives and blasting solutions, has developed the S200Eco range of emulsion - an Ammonium Nitrate/Calcium Nitrate (AN/CN) formulation. This range was initially developed for hot-hole blasting, where temperature resistant emulsions were required in surface coal mining. It was discovered that with some minor formulation changes, this product could be effective in regular coal blasting (non-hot hole), as well as hard-rock blasting, as found in quarries and other open pit mines.

According to Sean Slabbert, AEL’s product manager – surface bulk, by using a specially developed surfactant in their emulsions, used or recycled oil can be incorporated in the fuel phase of the emulsion without compromising product stability or performance. “S200Eco emulsions are as a result environmentally-friendly and can help customers reduce their carbon footprint. S200Eco has a black or grey appearance and excellent water resistance. The Eco range comprises versatile products that are eco-friendly (used/recycled oil), have a longer shelf-life, as well as the ability to safely blast “hot holes” in the coal mining industry.”

AEL’s S200Eco product comes in three ranges: SH200Eco, formulated for blasting coal mining areas with hot blast holes; SC200Eco that is used in regular overburden coal blasts; and the SP200Eco, which is specially formulated for hard-rock blasting found in quarries and various open pit and massive operations.

The SC200Eco and SP200Eco products have thermal stability to 180°C, whereas the SH200Eco product has thermal stability to 280°C for a period of 6-8 hours. “It is important to note, however that these operating temperature ranges are only for the emulsion and do not cover detonator and booster functionality. This product is initiated with Pentolite boosters that are suitable for the respective hole diameters,” comments Slabbert.

Slabbert shares these special precautions: “Although base emulsions are classified as non-detonable under UN criteria and are not sensitive to normal stimuli, under certain conditions they can explode, and therefore need to be handled with care.”

According to Slabbert, remote mining sites require a product with a longer shelf life and hot hole blasting customers in the coal industry need a safe and reliable explosive in order to continue with business as usual and these products are aimed at meeting that market need.

Customer Benefits

Coal mining currently consumes 55% of the surface emulsion product, with open pit and massive and quarrying hard rock applications making up the remainder of the demand. AEL’s S200Eco range gives customers peace of mind in that its shelf life is up to 14 weeks from manufacture date – and is less prone to crystallisation; and in terms of sleep time, has a maximum period of three weeks after sensitising (for non-hot hole applications). It is however important to comply with legal storage requirements for the particular region.

In terms of application, the S200Eco range is delivered in tankers and offloaded into silos or Mobile Manufacturing Units (MMUs). The MMU mixes and sensitises the required explosive blend. Slabbert advises, “Even when using these products, Hot Hole charging procedures should be followed at all times.  The S200Eco range can be pumped or augered, as well as be used in dry blast holes dependent on the ratio of blended ANA”. These products are not suitable for use in underground mining.

With S200Eco, customers can dispose of their used oil in an environmentally-friendly way as AEL can use up to 40% recycled oil, provided by its suppliers, in the fuel phase of the S200Eco product. Other benefits for customers include; optimum shelf life, which translates to better working capital management; and improved product ‘flowability’, which results in cleaner storage silos. In addition, this environmentally-friendly product range assists in reducing a customer’s carbon footprint and has hot hole application capability, allowing for increased productivity by being able to blast ‘as usual’.

“These products are also positioned at an economical price, thereby containing mining costs. Customers use sophisticated, yet easy to operate equipment which adds to an improved operational efficiency,” adds Slabbert.

In conclusion, Slabbert says that AEL has conducted trials in the surface market and a substantial number of customers are already using these products. “Customers have reported that the products are performing to expectation in their coal, quarry and open pit & massive operations and AEL is ready to serve the international market with this product range.”

More about AEL Mining Services

AEL Mining Services, a member of the JSE-listed AECI Group in South Africa, is a leading developer, producer and supplier of commercial explosives, initiating systems and blasting services for mining, quarrying and construction markets in Africa and Indonesia. AEL is a world-class mining services company with global technologies that create wealth and growth in South Africa, African and selected international markets.

With its head office in Johannesburg, South Africa, AEL was established in 1896, and is today one of the world's leading suppliers of explosives and initiating systems.  With 16 companies in AEL Mining Services, the group also has production facilities and offices in South Africa, Egypt, Ghana, Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Zambia, DRC, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Chile, and South East Asia. 

With its large team of leading engineers and scientists, AEL has over a century of expertise and knowledge in developing ground-breaking and innovative blasting solutions that contribute to the creation of infrastructures in countries throughout the world.

ISSUED ON BEHALF OF AEL MINING SERVICES LIMITED

For more information, please contact Vuyiswa Vivi Majova
Group Marketing & Communications Manager, Tel : +27 11 606 0550

Email: Vuyiswa Vivi Majova

Sean Slabbert – Product manager – Surface Bulk
Email: Sean Slabbert@aelms

EDITORIAL CONTACTS

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