AECI Mining Explosives has showcased the results of its revolutionary low ammonium nitrate (AN) emulsion technology and sustainable blasting innovations at Indonesia’s largest coal mining operation during the recent IBES Annual Conference 2025.
This milestone forms part of AECI’s long-standing partnership with PT Kaltim Prima Coal (KPC), where the company has significantly enhanced blasting safety, efficiency and environmental sustainability, it says.
With over a decade of collaboration, KPC has served as a collaborative partner and proving ground for some of AECI’s most significant breakthroughs in emulsion explosives. Central to these innovations is the development of a low-AN emulsion formulation, which reduces the AN content in the explosive matrix from over 70% to between 66% and 68%. This advancement not only helps mitigate exposure to global AN price volatility but also significantly lowers the environmental footprint associated with explosive use through reduced greenhouse gas emissions and nitrate leaching risks.
Duncan Etwell, Vice President of Asia-Pacific at AECI, said: “Optimising our formulations to lower AN content is part of our commitment to helping mines reduce costs without sacrificing safety or performance. This project at KPC demonstrates our ability to deliver tailored solutions based on customer needs and operating environments.”
Field trials at KPC confirmed that the reduced-AN emulsion delivered comparable fragmentation, digging times and overall blast results to conventional formulations, the company says. Critically, the formulation enables more precise control of explosive energy output, aligning the energy release with specific blasting objectives. This targeted energy delivery not only optimises rock breakage efficiency but also reduces unnecessary energy input, supporting more sustainable blasting practices. Achieving this required precise rebalancing of the water phase and sensitiser mix, enabled by AECI’s advanced polymeric emulsifier technology, to maintain both emulsion stability and energy output.
Another innovation from AECI’s Indonesia operations is the integration of used oil into emulsion manufacturing. By replacing a portion of virgin fuel with waste oil, KPC has been able to reduce its environmental footprint while contributing to a circular economy. This initiative, now incorporated into AECI’s global Eco range of emulsion products, safely uses recycled hydrocarbons without compromising explosive performance.
Etwell said: “Our Eco emulsion technology enables customers to transform waste into value. By safely incorporating used oil into our formulations, we help mines lower costs, reduce waste disposal issues and achieve their sustainability targets.”
AECI says its innovative, technically collaborative approach positions the company at the forefront of sustainable blasting solutions for the global mining sector. “The successful trials at KPC underscore AECI’s broader strategy of delivering responsible mining technologies worldwide, blending technical excellence with environmental stewardship,” it concluded.
Radja Nove Putra (pictured above on the left), AECI Indonesia Technical Manager – Engineering, presented the paper at IBES 2025
