BME, the mining segment of JSE-listed Omnia, has made significant advances in sustainability and continues to push boundaries by finding better ways to achieve its environmental, social and governance (ESG) goals and help customers do the same.

“We are making massive strides in the ESG space through renewable energy, plugging into the circular economy, decarbonisation, and using technology to optimise processes,” says BME MD Ralf Hennecke.

BME manufactures and supplies blasting solutions and provides technical services and value-add technology to the mining, quarrying and construction industries. Its products include bulk emulsions, packaged explosives, and initiating systems, as well as superior technological advances which include digitisation, robotics, AI and cloud integration. Its technical services range from digital blast monitoring to advanced consultancy and optimisation projects to provide cost-effective blasting, increased mineral recovery, higher plant throughput rates, reduced waste mining and longer life-of-mine. 

In addition to blasting solutions, BME offers specialist services and performance chemicals that improve mineral extraction efficiencies in many mining operations. The team’s technical expertise provide solutions to cover a range of industry challenges such as preg-robbing in gold leaching, colloidal silica removal in solvent extraction, acid mist suppression, scale prevention and removal, product use optimisation and so much more, with the aim of improving customer profitability.

As a leading global supplier to the mining industry, BME is mindful of both its, and the industry’s, role in addressing decarbonisation and reducing its environmental impact. 

“The mining sector is seen as a disruptive industry, and so there is an additional lens on mining companies and service providers. The whole ecosystem has to, perhaps, do more than other companies and industries. Omnia and BME can contribute meaningful sustainability initiatives,” says Hennecke. 

The coal industry in particular faces major environmental challenges, given its role in coal-fired power generation. 

Hennecke explains that the pressure on the coal industry is justified but it will take a while before renewable energy completely powers the world. Currently, it is estimated that most explosives used worldwide are in the coal sector. 

“We keep a purposeful eye on this and are also focussed on other commodities, like battery metals; however, we have a responsibility to our host countries and customers and are deliberate in partnering with them and the communities that rely on these coal businesses,” Hennecke notes. 

For the mining industry and its service providers, the imperative to reduce environmental impacts is not only driven by the market, such as shareholders, customers and regulators, but also because “it’s the right thing to do”, he says.

Omnia and BME already contribute meaningfully to sustainability through several levers including renewable energy, the circular economy, manufacturing products that reduce emissions, and through an investment in a ground-breaking technology that is set to transform the explosives market. 

Solar Power

Omnia has invested significantly in renewable-energy capacity, with solar power facilities at BME’s operations at Losberg, in the North West, and Dryden, in Mpumalanga. Omnia’s largest solar plant (10 MW) is at its Sasolburg facility in the Free State. 

“We are on a journey to solar-power all our plants worldwide, including mobile plants in Africa and other remote places,” says Hennecke. 

At a group level, solar-generated electricity accounted for 14.7% of the total energy consumed. In the 2024 financial year, Omnia generated 12 976 MWh of solar power, a significant improvement from the previous 4 911 MWh generated in the 2023 financial year. Solar, along with Omnia’s ability to generate electricity from the surplus process steam produced by its nitric acid plants, is expected to supplement between 25% and 50% of Sasolburg’s annual electricity needs.

As part of the Omnia group’s ongoing investment in the transition to clean and renewable energy, it has identified and allocated capital for a further 50 sites to transition to clean energy. 

Circular Economy

Waste oil is increasingly used in BME products. INNOVEX™ formulations integrate used oil as a key step in BME’s ultimate goal of decarbonising the blasting value chain. Emulsion explosives made with used oil are typically more cost effective and sustainable than traditional explosives. This can help mining companies reduce their carbon footprint, as well as improve profitability through lower-cost inputs. 

In South Africa, BME consumes about 25% of the total used lubricating oil generated. Recycling used oil prevents it from being dumped and contaminating water and soil, and conserves other oil resources. 

The volume of used oil consumed by BME has increased 35% to 24.4-million litres, protecting about 24-trillion litres of water from potential contamination.

The  used oil, which is sourced through a network of customers and third parties, is developed into a fuel agent for emulsion explosives, which is processed and tested at a facility in Delmas, Mpumalanga, from where it is channelled into BME’s emulsion production. During the blasting process, the oil component is completely consumed as it combusts during detonation. This is increasingly important as concerns grow about water and air quality in South Africa.

As part of the used oil supply chain, BME supports small businesses and the creation of jobs. Water is a scarce resource and Omnia’s reverse osmosis water treatment plant at its Sasolburg plant reduces consumption of fresh water, with the reverse osmosis plant contributing to an increase in the volume of water recycled from 140-million litres in the 2023 financial year to 174-million litres in the 2024 financial year.

Globally, Omnia is analysing its water and wastewater footprints to develop a plan to reduce water consumption and water waste across its operations.

Decarbonisation 

Omnia’s decarbonisation efforts are yielding results with total Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse-gas emissions declining by 16% to 156 759 t of CO2 equivalent in the 2024 financial year, primarily owing to a significant reduction in Scope 1 emissions in the agriculture segment.

BME’s contribution in this regard includes its production processes that use solar power, its precision blasting services, and its dual-salt formulation that is manufactured at lower temperatures, resulting in reduced energy consumption and, in turn, lower emissions generated during the manufacturing process. 

“Innovation plays a big role in ESG,” Hennecke says, adding that “where we can add value is through accuracy, through our products, to ensure precision blasting that will benefit downstream all the way to the milling circuit. That is what digitisation means for us.”

AXXIS™ precision blasting plays a crucial role in reducing emissions by enabling other service providers to load and haul more efficiently, thereby optimising processes at mills, plants and refineries. This provides a major benefit for customers as loading, hauling and plants generate more carbon toxins than explosives. 

Hypex Bio 

Omnia’s investment in Swedish company Hypex Bio will accelerate its sustainability drive. Hypex Bio is poised to set the global mining industry on a new trajectory, with its innovative technology – the first industrial-scale offering of a hydrogen peroxide emulsion (HPE), a long-awaited alternative to traditional nitrate-based explosives. 

HPE is an alternative to nitrate-based explosives enabling miners to reduce their environmental impact, while benefitting from enhanced efficiency and reduced costs. 

As more companies commit to decarbonising their value chains, HPE has the potential to transform the explosives supply industry, Hennecke adds. 

The manufacturing of HPE explosives offers a significant reduction in total carbon emission compared with nitrate-based explosives. Based on the current EU average, manufacturing 1 kg of ammonium nitrate emulsion emits 2.3 kg of CO2, while 1 kg of HPE emits 0.23 kg of CO2 – this represents a 90% difference. 

HPE, which has passed regulatory tests and is approved under the EU Civil Explosives Directive, is free of nitrates and ammonia and so offers many environmental advantages. 

As the hydrogen peroxide acts as an oxidiser without producing ammonia and nitrate by-products like nitrous oxide (NOX) gas, there is no potential for toxic NOX fumes being generated following poor blasts, which can impact a miners licence to operate. 

 HPE can be used in any weather conditions, unlike ammonia nitrate explosives that can only be deployed during favourable wind conditions to avoid NOX fumes impacting on nearby communities. 

In addition, at typical mines, using explosives that are free of any nitrates can reduce water treatment costs and water impacts, as there is no aqueous nitrate and ammonia discharge requiring remediation. 

“Hypex is not only about one invention. It’s about numerous co-developments and is opening doors for us on many fronts. Hypex is groundbreaking, watch this space,” Hennecke emphasises.

Looking Ahead

For BME, the investment in Hypex Bio will enable future collaboration opportunities with the Swedish business, positioning BME at the forefront of finding new and better ways for its customers to mine. 

“I have a lot of confidence that we are doing things right within the ESG arena, and we’ve got the right DNA to drive that forward, which is really exciting. Our ESG credentials are a differentiator in the market. We can pride ourselves on the ESG aspects we are excelling at as an organisation.”