Johannesburg - 6th May 2010 - AEL Mining Services, an international leader and innovator in blasting solutions, has committed to an initiative to reduce the group's carbon footprint at its operations.

Ellen van Dongen, group environment manager at AEL comments, "Despite the controversies in Copenhagen at the end of 2009 regarding the scientific accuracy of the effects of greenhouse gas emissions on our planet and the lack of governments to commit to reduction targets, AEL joins the ranks of proactive business leaders that are taking the first steps towards reducing their carbon footprint."

AEL launched its carbon footprint project in February 2010 with the aim of determining its carbon footprint for the whole business by the end of the year.  Information will be supplied to AEL's parent company, AECI, for the group's annual report, as well as to the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP).

AEL will measure its carbon footprint according to the Responsible Care Carbon Footprint Guidance document which was launched by the Chemical and Allied Industries Association in March 2010 to assist chemical companies with the collection of information required to derive their carbon footprint.

The project at AEL commenced with the provision of data collection sheets for information for Scope 1, Scope 2 and Scope 3 emissions, the latter two categories measuring indirect emissions.

Scope 1 looks at direct emissions that result from activities that AEL controls, such as on-site combustion of fuels, emission of gasses during operation, and the running of a vehicle fleet. Scope 2 looks at electricity usage and where this cannot be measured directly such as on mining sites, it will be calculated.  Scope 3 covers emissions that AEL does not directly control, such as travel and chemical product transportation emissions.

Van Dongen adds, "This data will be collated by representatives at each of the AEL sites on a monthly basis and will be submitted to me. Emission factors are  applied to the data in order to derive the carbon dioxide equivalents for each component in each scope. Once the carbon equivalents are calculated, these can be summarised into the monthly environmental report."

As an explosives' company, we understand the enormous responsibility of our role in mining the earth, and the importance of mining to the welfare of the people and the development of economies. AEL's commitment to the carbon reduction programme is in line with our strategy of demonstrating meticulous care not only for the welfare of the people, but also for the environment," says Van Dongen.

For more information, please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  
Group Marketing & Communications Manager, Tel: +27 11 606 0550

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