Orica's lead-free electronic blasting system range in EMEA. (Image source: EMEA)

Orica, a leading mining and infrastructure solutions provider, has taken another step forward in its ambition to make mining more sustainable by announcing that it will manufacture the world’s first lead-free electronic blasting system range

Following the successful introduction of the world’s first fully lead-free non-electric detonator range last year (the Exel NEO), the company has announced that it will expand its lead-free Non Primary Explosives Detonator NPED technology to manufacture the electronic blastin system at its plant in Sweden.

“With the expansion of our lead-free NPED technology to our market-leading electronic blasting systems range, Orica takes another step towards a more sustainable future for the industry,” commented Orica chief technology officer Angus Melbourne. “It’s a testament to Orica’s 150-year history of innovation and commitment to safer and more responsible solutions that deliver positive economic, social, and environmental outcomes. I would like to thank our teams around the world for their outstanding commitment to delivering innovative solutions to our customers and the industry.”

Reducing mining environmental footprint

To new lead-free variant will integrate Orica’s NPED technology and will be made available across the full range of electronic blasting systems including the eDEV II Neo, uni tronic 600 Neo and ikon III Neo. Benefits include all lead removed from the production process and from being released into the environment during application and the company is also investigating options for the reduction of plastics in the development of the new systems to further limit the environmental footprint.

Orica’s group executive and EMEA president James Bonnor, remarked, “This is the first time Orica’s electronic blasting systems are being manufactured at our new state-of-the-art facility in Sweden, close to customers in Europe, ensuring supply security and optimisation. The facility will initially be used to assemble Orica’s standard EBS detonators before it will become the world’s first assembly line for the fully lead-free electronic blasting range based on NPED technology. Trials with our customers will get underway in July – August 2024 and we look forward to continuing to explore how Orica can use innovative technologies to assist our customers achieve their environmental, social and governance goals.”

Field trials and testing will be conducted in the coming months following several years of development and it is expected that the new lead-free electronic blasting systems range will be available for shipment in Europe by early 2025.

VoltVision is supporting an increasing number of miners in Africa and the Middle East on their journey to becoming more responsible users of power. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

VoltVision, a high-voltage electrical data analytics business, has continued its expansion across the mining sectors of Africa and the Middle East

After conducting successful trials, the company has acquired four new contracts with top-tier miners in a development which proves its capabilities in the digitisation of complex high and medium voltage power grids, according to the company. The contact wins have also been taken as a demonstration of the company’s success in helping mining companies to improve operational efficiencies and accelerate the decarbonisation of the industry. The four contracts include:

Barrick Gold – Lumwana Project: Barrick has partnered with VoltVision to gain a deeper understanding of its power performance at both a site and group level. With its solutions enabling the operations team to monitor the electrical performance of the processing plant, efficiency gains can be captured and it will help manage the relationship with the grid supplier through ongoing monitoring and billing verification.

Centamin – Sukari Mine: VoltVision will digitise three critical areas of the Centamin Sukari mine complex in Egypt. This will include underground operations, the process plant and all power generation units. VoltVision’s solutions will enable Sukari to better operate its Power Management System, maximise solar PV usage, and advance to automated real-time energy reporting.

Resolute Mining – Syama Project: VoltVision will work to provide Resolute with better visibility into Syama’s medium voltage power network. VoltVision has retrofitted its solutions across Syama’s entire MV power network enabling the site management team to monitor diesel generation, power usage and power quality. VoltVision has streamlined the reporting process, guaranteeing accuracy and availability by using its customised reporting feature.

Allied Gold – Sadiola Project: At Allied Gold's site, VoltVision has implemented a monitoring solution, providing site-wide power digitisation. This has given the ExCo team unprecedented access to power usage and quality data across the entire processing plant, allowing them to identify areas for improved efficiency. VoltVision has also built a centralised multi-asset monitoring tool for the site management team.

“We are thrilled to be working with Centamin, Resolute Mining, Allied Gold and Barrick’s Lumwana complex in their respective efforts to improve operational efficiencies, reduce costs and address climate change,” remarked Manoli Yannaghas, co-founder and managing director of VoltVision. “VoltVision is proud to be supporting an increasing number of leading miners in Africa and the Middle East on their journey to becoming more responsible users of power, tackling energy wastage and addressing carbon intensity.

“Our solutions are installed without the need for operational shutdowns and at a fraction of the price of alternatives. The power efficiencies and cost savings recorded by our customers in just a few months is a testament to the effectiveness of power transparency that a digital analytics solution can offer.”

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