About us

BME, together with Protea Mining Chemicals, forms the mining division within the Omnia Group. The Omnia Group is a JSE-listed diversified provider of specialised chemical products and services used in the mining, agriculture and chemicals sectors.

History

Omnia has been in business for 61 years and has its head office in Johannesburg, South Africa. The Group’s operations extend across Africa, Australasia and Brazil. Omnia differentiates itself from commodity chemical providers by adding value at every stage of the supply and service chain through technological innovation and by deploying our intellectual capital.

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Driving blasting technology for Africa and beyond

Formed in 1984 on the strength of a new cold emulsion technology that has since become an industry standard. BME now offers cutting-edge products and services at every stage in the explosives supply chain. We are today a leading manufacturer and supplier in Africa of explosives, related accessories and blasting services to the mining, quarrying and construction industries.

We work wherever our customers take us. Our footprint covers 17 African counties including South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Swaziland, Angola, Malawi, Mozambique, DRC, Sierra Leone, Mali, Burkina Faso, Mauritania and Senegal. BME also has legal entities in Indonesia and Australia and continues to expand.

Secure supply lines and safety first

As a division of the JSE-listed Omnia Group, BME has leveraged considerable investment in our manufacturing base, including:

Two nitric acid plants - the newest in Africa
Nitrophos Plant, CN
Ammonium nitrate facility ANS and ANCN solution
Two central emulsion plants
Two automated AXXIS electronic detonator plants
A cartridge explosive facility
Non-electrics assembly plant
MMU manufacturing and assembly
Remote emulsion plants

Our expertise and experience of working in Africa allows us to rapidly supply and commission emulsion plants at any location. With the production infrastructure and supply network that we have developed over the past three decades, our clients are assured of seamless service. We also enforce a best practice environment that prioritises health and safety for all stakeholders.

From bulk emulsions, plants and trucks – to software and initiating systems.

Our Product Solutions include:
BME- 900 x 600 px 4x3 Emulsion
Explosives
  • Emulsions
  • Packaged Explosives
  • Initiating Systems
Technology Pipeline Software Image 1
Software
  • Blastmap
  • Xplolog
  • BME’s Blasting Guide App
BME- 900 x 600 px 4x3 Initiating System
Technology
  • Emulsions
  • Packaged Explosives
  • Initiating Systems
Online-Booking-Portal-Generic-Image
Service and Support
  • Technical Services
  • Online Support Portal
  • Used Oil Services

We provide a wide range of technical services from routine blast monitoring using modern equipment and software to advanced consultancy and optimisation projects. Our leading design software, including Blastmap, and our AXXIS Digital Initiation System provide the advantage in achieving cost saving initiatives in blasting. The aim is more wealth for you through improved efficiencies from blasting optimally.

Examples are:

  • Reduced ore dilution and finer fragmentation for increased mineral recovery and higher plant throughput rates.
  • Improved wall quality and potentially steeper walls for reduced waste mining and longer life of mine.
  • Up to 25% higher rates of ore exposure using effective timing designs and accurate AXXIS electronic detonators.
  • Single-pass multiple seam mining using advanced timing designs and AXXIS electronic detonators.

Our Service Solutions include:
Muck pile profiling
Fly rock control
Blast software
Fragmentation analysis
Down-the-hole full blasting
Mine-to-mill
optimisation

Our technical services are underpinned by our online technical data sheets and support portal. In addition, we provide blast consulting, auditing, and monitoring services - giving your team access to 3 decades of industry experience.

Our Vision

We partner with our customers to provide ongoing support and sustainable solutions that create value across the blasting cycle – for the customer, the workforce, the broader mining community and our environment.

Our Values

We are a global, professionally-managed company with a strong, distinctive culture.

We combine the values of a family business with the virtues and strengths of a large-scale public company.

We operate according to a robust spirit of enterprise, underpinned by a reputation for the highest levels of integrity.

Timeline

2022

BME’s recycling initiative awarded

BME’s used-oil initiative awarded ‘Responsible Care Initiative of the Year’ (Category A) by the Chemical and Allied Industries’ Association (CAIA)

2022

2021

Blast Alliance launched

BME launched their integrated software portfolio – Blast Alliance.

2021

2020

CAIA Sustained High Performance Award 2020

BME named winner of the CAIA Sustained High Performance Award 2020 (Category B)

2020

2019

Expansion of footprint

Finalise joint venture with Indonesian partner – expanding our global footprint.

2019

2018

The Americas

Expansion into North and South America.

2018

Software for field data-collection

Xplolog is commissioned at a large open cast copper mine to gather blasting information in the field.

CBS for improved safety

Launch AXXIS underground centralised blasting system – allowing underground mining operations to initiate blasts from a safe and convenient place on surface.

World-record blast

World-record blast of 7350 AXXIS electronic detonators fired at an Australian coal-mine.

2017

Automated lines

Two automated lines are commissioned for AXXIS detonators.

2017

World-record blast

Another world-record blast of 6690 AXXIS electronic detonators is fired at a Zambian copper mine.

2016

Australia contract won

BME Australia is awarded a two-year contract with a large coal-mining company.

2016

World-record blast

A world-record blast of 5665 detonators is fired at an Australian coal mine.

2015

Portable Charging Unit

Launch first Portable Charging Unit (PCU) for use in the narrow reef environment at a platinum mine.

2015

Electronic detonators

AXXIS second electronic generation detonator launched.

World-first vertical drop

Commission a bulk emulsion vertical drop at 318 m at a gold min—a world-first.

2014

30 years old

BME celebrates being in business for 30 years.

2014

AXXIS Australia

BME enters the Australian market with the sale of AXXIS electronic detonators in Australia.

2013

Yet another plant commissioned

BME‘s twelfth emulsion plant is commissioned.

2013

Narrow reef emulsion

The narrow reef emulsion system is launched, bringing the benefits of emulsion blasting to narrow reef operations.

2012

PGAN

Omnia’s patented PGAN (Porous Granular Ammonium Nitrate) plant is commissioned, using raw materials from Omnia’s nitric acid and ammonium nitrate facilities to supply the Southern African market.

2012

Nitric acid supply security

A second Nitric Acid Complex is launched in Sasolburg, boosting South Africa’s nitric acid output by 330 000 tons a year, bringing the country’s capacity to about 1,4 million tons a year. This ensures supply security for BME customers.

Blast and timing design software

Develop new generation of blasting software, 
Blastmap, an advanced blast and timing design software package.

2010

Rock-breaking qualification

Receive approval for accreditation as a Training Provider with the Mining Qualification Authority, leading to the offering of their Rock-breaking qualification.

2010

AXXIS electronic detonator

First new generation AXXIS electronic detonator blasts successfully fired.

2009

Three more plants are commissioned

A second plant is commissioned in Mauritania.
An emulsion plant is established in Zambia
A modern shock tube assembly plant with testing facilities.

2009

Used-oil collection division

A used-oil collection division is established to compliment the introduction of used oil in emulsions.

2008

Two more plants are commissioned

A third plant is commissioned in Mali.
An emulsion plant is commissioned in Senegal.

2008

2006

Brand development

BME launches its new logo and branding.

2006

2005

Another two plants are commissioned

A third emulsion plant in Mauritania.
A second emulsion plant in Mali.

2005

2004

Another plant commissioned

A second bulk emulsion facility is commissioned at Losburg.

2004

2003

Entrance into electronic detonator market

The acquisition of a French electronic detonator company opens the door for BME to enter the sophisticated detonator market.

2003

2000

Two plants commissioned

BME‘s first plant in West Africa is commissioned in Mali.
The first international emulsion plant in East Africa is established in Tanzania.

2000

1998

Expand into Tanzania

BME starts operating in Tanzania—the first BME client outside South Africa.

1998

First plant commissioned

The first working uphole emulsion project is commissioned at PMS Phalaborwa.

1995

Technical consulting division

Blastinfo, BME‘s technical consulting division, is established to provide advanced technical support to its clients.

1995

1994

One plant commissioned

The Megamite plant is built and commissioned to supply cartridge explosive products for underground operations.

1994

1992

Underground explosives

BME diversifies into underground explosives and accessories.

1992

1991

Major supplier of bulk explosives

BME takes over the full supply of bulk explosives products to Optimum Colliery, positioning BME as a major supplier of bulk explosives to South African surface mines.

1991

Expansion of explosives range

BME‘s explosives product range is expanded with the establishment of the ANFO manufacturing and bagging plant near Rustenburg.

Porous prill ammonium nitrate facility

Omnia establishes a porous prill ammonium nitrate facility at Sasolburg.

1988

First emulsion truck

First emulsion truck built.

1988

1987

Heavy ANFO trucks

First heavy ANFO truck built.

1987

One plant commissioned

Dryden emulsion plant commissioned.

Entrance into mining explosives market

Omnia acquires BME from MSI to diversify into the mining explosives market.

1985

Minimisation of environmental impact

Introduce used oil (supplied by Sishen Iron Ore mine) into manufacturing of HEF emulsions, for huge environmental benefits.

1985

1984

Cold emulsion technology

MSI (Mining Services International) USA, a business based on cold emulsion technology, establishes BME in South Africa, for the supply of bulk explosives to Sishen.

1984

Business model

Our business model has been tried and tested over many years, and is fine-tuned as our markets and customers evolve. We sustain and grow our business by continuously enhancing the value we offer our local and international customers through product innovation, growing our intellectual capital and working to further raise our already exceptional service levels. A continuous feedback loop with our customers at all points of engagement keeps our business model on track.

BME-Global-Business-Model-LR

A business model for long-term sustainability

BME has a balanced presence in sectors that are essential to the sustainable use of the world’s finite resources, and will play a key role in sustaining Africa’s future development. We will continue to develop and leverage our intellectual property to add focused value to the chemicals, mining and agriculture markets in Africa and abroad.