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Mining technology is advancing rapidly, but its value depends on measurable gains in blast performance, processing efficiency and profitability. These challenges were central to the Annual 2026 Technical Summit, hosted by BME, an Omnia Group company, at the CSIR International Convention Centre in Pretoria on 28 October 2026.
Under the theme Connected Mining: Turning Intelligence into Impact, industry leaders explored how data, digital technology and technical expertise can improve performance and resilience across the mining value chain. Discussions also highlighted infrastructure constraints, supply-chain vulnerabilities and skills shortages. Omnia’s investment in research, digital platforms, automation and AI underpins BME’s response.
Interconnected suppliers, transport networks and logistics
Seelan Gobalsamy, Group CEO of Omnia Holdings, highlighted how geopolitical uncertainty, volatile input costs and disruptions to critical inputs such as ammonia can threaten mining operations.
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“Mining depends on interconnected suppliers, transport networks and logistics,” he said. “Disruption to a key input, such as ammonia can threaten blasting schedules and production continuity.” Strategic optionality for the benefit of customers requires diversified supply sources, investing capital with discipline and strengthening redundancy in infrastructure.
Omnia’s international partnerships and expanded operational footprint strengthen supply options. Gobalsamy also emphasised safety and environmental responsibility. “Flooding can disrupt transport and mining, while water scarcity constrains production. Reducing emissions and improving water efficiency are integral to long-term operational resilience,” he said.
Delivering practical value
Ralf Hennecke, Managing Director of BME, highlighted the importance of technology investment, supported by Omnia. “Volatile commodity prices, rising operating costs, complex geology and sustainability demands make productivity improvements essential,” he said. “However, solutions must address genuine operational challenges, suit site conditions and remain cost-effective.”
BME’s VIPERTRON® detonator illustrates this principle, offering a simplified, lower-cost option for adopting electronic detonators while retaining the required timing accuracy.
Hennecke also stressed industry collaboration. Sharing technical knowledge, including lessons from unsuccessful approaches, can help companies avoid mistakes and accelerate innovation. He noted that the Technical Summit provides a platform for this exchange.
Digital transformation is a business decision
Valter Adão, CEO and Digital Leader at Cadena Growth Partners, argued that digital transformation must be treated as a business decision rather than a technology exercise.
“Investments in AI and automation must start with strategic objectives, measurable outcomes and credible business cases,” he said. “Realising returns may also require redesigned workflows, new performance measures and employee training.”
Connecting blast design to downstream performance
Nishen Hariparsad, General Manager for Technology and Marketing at BME, examined how geology, blast design and execution affect downstream production. “Optimising fragmentation, loading, haulage, crushing and grinding in isolation does not necessarily improve overall performance or mineral recovery,” he noted.
Ravi Sahu, CEO of Strayos, showed how geological models, drilling records, machine vision and plant data can be linked to trace operational performance and inform better blasting decisions.
BME’s software suite applies AI and predictive modelling to evaluate alternatives and optimise blast design, connecting INNOVEX® energy delivery, AXXIS® precision initiation and BME’s BLASTMAP®, XPLOLOG® and XPLOSMART® digital platforms.
“Innovation is proven when it changes a decision and delivers measurable value,” Hariparsad said, highlighting Omnia’s investment in research, digital capability and automation.
These technologies also support more effective execution and oversight of surface and underground blasting.
Digital blast surveys and maintenance records
Crivice Mahlaule, Underground Operations Manager for BME’s Northern Cape region, explained how XPLOLOG® Underground replaces paper-based processes with structured digital blast surveys and equipment maintenance records.
“Our offline-capable Android app tracks blast survey progress compares planned and actual execution, and syncs data to an online dashboard when connectivity returns,” he explained. This improves operational visibility, supports compliance and flags deviations for corrective action.
Connecting technical decisions to operational outcomes
Gary Lane, founder and Director of Vuuma and past President of the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (SAIMM), explained why a mine-to-mill perspective matters.
“Finer blast fragmentation, for example, does not automatically improve recovery,” he said. “It may increase throughput while reducing SAG mill power utilisation and producing a coarser final grind, potentially compromising flotation recovery.”
Lane advocated an integrated value tree connecting technical decisions to operational and financial outcomes. This gives blasting, processing and finance teams a common basis for evaluating alternatives rather than judging success through isolated departmental measures.
Technical collaboration delivers measurable gains
BME Regional Technical Manager, Hennie van Niekerk, presented a case study demonstrating how addressing a technical challenge can improve productivity and create opportunities for additional value for mining customers.
In his case study, he presented how an open-cast coal mine in Mpumalanga faced unstable highwalls, inconsistent fragmentation, excessive backbreak and over digging. Increasing drilling and powder factors raised costs without resolving the underlying problems.
BME’s technical services team evaluated the entire drill-and-blast process, including presplitting, explosive application, face profiling and blast monitoring. “Testing identified an inadequate presplit,” van Niekerk said. “Adjusting the split factor from 0.3 kg/m² to 0.8 kg/m² in stages, based on the specific rock conditions, helped improve blast movement and fragmentation while reducing toes, vibration and fly rock.”
The improvements implemented by BME cut coal loss and freed 720 drilling hours annually, delivering estimated net annual savings of R7 146 113. Increasing the split factor in stages from 0.3 to 0.6 and then 0.8 kg/m² also created the potential to expose a further 48,000 tonnes of coal across 1.3 additional strips, without extra drilling and blasting expenditure.
Breaking down mining silos
The panel discussion, Breaking Mining Silos Through Connected Systems, moderated by Tom Dermody, Global Technical Services Manager at BME, featured Dr Alan Tordoir, Director of Mining Technology and Portfolio Integration at Mining3; Junior Keyser, Director of GB Keyser Mining Consultants; and Robert McClure, President of R.A. McClure.
The panellists examined why geological models, blast designs, drilling records and plant measurements often remain disconnected despite investment in digital systems. Integration requires reliable data, shared performance measures and a common understanding of how decisions affect the wider operation.
The panel discussion further highlighted that solutions must also suit individual mines’ conditions and digital maturity. Training, implementation and ongoing support are essential to ensure employees can interpret information and act on it.
Connecting mines to Africa’s industrial future
In his keynote, Mzila Mthenjane, CEO of the Minerals Council South Africa (MCSA), highlighted the economic systems needed to make mining competitive.
“Mineral endowment creates opportunity, but competitiveness determines whether we capture the value,” he said. Unreliable rail and high electricity costs can undermine even technologically advanced mines and efficient processing plants.
Connected mining must link mineral resources to infrastructure, skills, competitive industries and African markets. He highlighted the need for Government and Business Partnership’s work to unlock at least R50 billion in potential mining investment by February 2028, while reducing regulatory delays and restoring investor confidence.
Mining’s demand for explosives, chemicals, equipment, engineering services and digital technologies also creates opportunities to expand African manufacturing, maintenance, research and design capabilities. Infrastructure developed around mines can benefit other industries and communities.
Realising this potential requires beneficiation, regional integration and investment in people. “Africa’s youthful and growing population is also a major economic asset,” he said. The challenge, he added, is to convert this demographic potential and the continent’s mineral wealth into “sustainable industries and societal prosperity”.
Turning connected mining into impact
The summit reinforced how Omnia’s investment in research and development, digital platforms, automation and AI enables BME to connect products, data and technical expertise across the mining value chain, helping its customers turn connected mining into measurable impact.
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