International

AEL's International division comprises three business operations, servicing the Asia Pacific, European and South American markets.

As the leading explosives solution provider in Southern Africa and the African continent, AEL Mining Services first expanded its footprint into global markets with the formation of PT AEL Indonesia as a wholly owned company to compete with major global explosives companies during 2006.

Although AEL had serviced the Asia Pacific region for over 25 years with the supply of commercial explosives, as well as other select global markets through its channel partners. This was the first bespoke hub operation, with its head office situated in Jakarta to service North and South Asia, as well as the Australia Pacific and Asia Pacific regions . Today, AEL has a staff count of over 200 servicing this region.

Soon after its inception in Jakarta, AEL was awarded the tender against stiff opposition for several significant projects in the coal mining market, including one of the largest mining operations in the world. AEL Indonesia also has a number of contracts with the largest mining contractors in the country,

AEL has established several bulk emulsion manufacturing plants at key customer sites, which include plants at KPC; Melak with PT Thiess Contractors; Gunung Bayan Pratamacoal with PT Bukit Makmur (BUMA)a plant with Petrosea at Santan Batabara; and the most recent is a plant with Leighton’s at MSJ. AEL also has a Shock tube assembly plant with Dahana.

During 2008, AEL established a joint venture company with EPC Groupe to service the European market. Through EPC Groupe Companies, Minexplo provides Euronel non-electric detonators, as well as UBS (Undergound Bulk Systems) to leading quarries and mines throughout Europe. Minexplo has a shock tube assembly facility at EPC-UK’s facilities in Derbyshire, England, as well as an expanding range of UBS charging units at strategic points throughout Europe, supporting both mining and tunnelling applications.

At the end of 2009, AEL made a strategic decision to enter into the South American market, due to the demand and market opportunities in this region.

AEL South America, headquartered in Santiago, Chile, was established in 2010 as a regional channel business centre that distributes AEL’s range of explosives, initiating systems and services. AEL accomplished this through partnering with ENAEX and EXSA - two of the regions most respected channel operators in the mining sector.

AEL's expansion into select international markets through a combination of hub and channel operations is backed by a strong central Research and Development team, and training infrastructure that is deployed globally to maximise blasting efficiencies at customer sites.

AEL also provides a range of value added services that enhance blast efficiencies, ranging from Down the Hole, and Prime Load Tie and/or Shoot to full blasting solutions. AEL's Mining Optimisation offering goes well beyond the product range to bring a wealth and history of innovation and experience to customers and includes an array of services to assess and enhance blasting operations and increase productivity.

AEL deploys a large range of equipment in regions that it operates, from AEL designepd and manufactured Mobile Manufacturing Units (MMUs), rapid reloaders, Underground Utility Vehicless, in-stope pumps, to silos and magazines.

AEL's proven capability of deploying infrastructure to global standards in a fast turnaround time, coupled with the expertise to rapidly develop customised premier products to suit specific applications and mandatory quality standards, gives the group a competitive edge in expanding into new markets..

Safety, Health and the Environment

In caring for its people, customers and environment with meticulous care, AEL is firmly committed to ensuring that all its activities are conducted safely to minimise risk to employees, contractors and the public.

AEL’s activities are widespread, and because of this, the group's exposure is diverse. Examples include mining related and road safety issues, manufacturing of initiating systems, bulk explosives, chemicals and explosives, as well as general engineering activities.

With 16 businesses in the AEL group, there is a strong focus on standardisation throughout the organisation and an overall alignment of best safety and health practices.

AEL embraces a safety culture throughout the group, and strives towards exemplary performance in the safety and health fields, including the development, manufacture, storage, distribution, testing, destruction and use of explosive initiating systems, bulk explosive and nitrogen based chemicals.

One of AEL’s core values is to strive to continually improve the sustainability of its environmental performance. This is done through the ISO14001 environmental management system and commitment to the Responsible Care initiative, which encourages site personnel to take meticulous care of the environment in which they operate.

With over 100 years of history in the explosives industry, AEL remains at the forefront of continued product innovation, and is recognised as one of the world's leaders in explosives' solutions