“Intrinsic to the design of electronic detonators is the over-riding safety factor which minimises the risk of accidental initiation, allowing access to people with encrypted codes to initiate the detonators,” says Carlos Goncalves, product manager – AEL Mining Services electronic initiating systems.

According to Goncalves, AEL’s electronic detonators are robust and suitable for use in the toughest tunnelling, shaft sinking, underground stoping, quarrying and open cast mining environments.  "Today we are excited to announce three of the products - Quick Shot, DigiShot and DigiShot Plus, developed by our sister company, DetNet - that we are focussing on to showcase our innovations in electronic detonating technology."

Electronic detonators provide numerous benefits including; accuracy of firing times, cost effectiveness, improved overall cycle times, reduction in environmental impact, fine tuned blasting to suit any operational requirement, increased productivity and the ability to reduce secondary breakage costs.

“Operations that have adopted electronic initiating systems are reporting downstream and upstream benefits including improved and consistent fragmentation; controlled muckpile profile and placement; excavation profile and stability improvements; reduced mining costs and safety risks,” says Goncalves.

AEL has deployed electronic initiating systems in quarrying, tunnelling, underground mining, and surface mining applications.  From 2007 to 2009, the Gautrain Rapid Rail Project’s 15km underground tunnels were excavated under sensitive, built-up areas in Johannesburg. AEL's QuickShot electronic detonator system was used to achieve maximum advance rates as well as adhering to environmental restrictions.  Blasting was performed without incurring damage to sensitive structures on surface with Positive Prescriptive Value (PPV) levels well under the target maximum of 10mm/s.

Other examples of operations that have adopted electronic delay detonators are Ngezi Open Pit mine in Zimbabwe and Coedmore Quarry in KwaZulu Natal.  Ngezi - the first mine to use electronic detonators in Zimbabwe wanted to optimise the mining processing value chain while Coedmore Quarry had to ensure that the environmental impact was reduced resulting in its operations continuing production.

“With our rigorously trained engineers, the mining industry wishing to convert to electronic detonators will gain comprehensive assistance in selecting systems that suit their particular applications, be it for underground or surface. In addition, our Mining Optimisation team will provide ongoing support, training and a range of software tools to assist the successful deployment,” adds Goncalves.

AEL is targetting regions including South Africa, Botswana, Ghana, Zambia and DRC, South America and Europe, the latter under its joint partnership agreements.

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

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