AECI Mining showcased a suite of what it says are groundbreaking technologies at this year’s Africa Down Under (ADU) Conference in Perth, Australia, reinforcing its commitment to reshaping the safety, sustainability and precision of blasting operations across Africa.
Discussions at the event also centred on AECI’s new electronic detonator system currently being trialled in Africa, which has the potential to reshape the safety and precision of blasting operations across the continent. The detonator trial is one component of a broader technology suite AECI uses to optimise mining operations across Africa, including its PowerBoost technology which offers a safer, more sustainable alternative to traditional TNT or RDX-based boosters.
Jaco Human, AECI Mining Vice President: Africa & Rest of World, says: “Mines across the globe are making the shift to PowerBoost, attracted by the elimination of sensitive military-grade materials and the enhanced safety this delivers. With AECI’s ability to establish on-site production plants, we not only remove transport and handling risks from the equation but also generate meaningful local employment opportunities.”
Further reinforcing its underground mining offering, AECI Mining Explosives highlighted its emulsion vertical drop systems. Successfully deployed in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Zambia, these innovative pipelines deliver emulsions directly from surface to underground storage facilities through controlled processes, ensuring product integrity while cutting costs, reducing environmental impact, and transforming underground logistics.
Human added: “Mining in Africa is diverse and it demands more than a one-size-fits-all approach. Our legacy has always been about working alongside our customers to design fit-for-purpose solutions. At ADU 2025, we were proud to showcase our latest developments and to engage with partners, both old and new, about how we can build the future of mining together.”
Delegates also heard how AECI’s long-standing success in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) underscores its expertise in delivering value in some of the world’s most challenging mining environments. Under the leadership of Kazadi Kaninda, Managing Director of AECI DRC, the company has supported major operations such as Kamoa-Ivanhoe, recognised globally as the largest undeveloped high-grade copper discovery.
Since blasting the Kansoko Box Cut in 2014, AECI has remained a strategic partner at Kamoa, playing a vital role in underground development through innovative blasting solutions, high-performance explosives and reliable on-site support, it says.
Today, AECI operates the region’s largest fleet of Mobile Charging Units and is finalising an on-site emulsion manufacturing plant to secure production stability as copper output continues to rise. These achievements demonstrate AECI’s ability to provide fit-for-purpose underground solutions – from emulsion vertical drop systems to advanced emulsion and charging technology – enabling mines like Kamoa to achieve production milestones that would not otherwise have been possible.
