SHAPING THE FUTURE
Other Orica technologies improving safety and productivity include 4D™, a revolutionary bulk explosives system that supports surface and underground blasting operations and can be tailored instantaneously to suit varying geologies and hole conditions for the desired blast outcomes.
Enabled by Orica’s proprietary emulsion chemistry and smart technologies, operations using 4D™ can achieve accurate, automated, and efficient energy control.
On the surface, one of the key benefits of 4D™ is the technology’s augered and pumped loading methods for improved efficiency in explosives delivery.
Surface operations also enjoy reduced drill and blast costs through the application of greater energy, optimised fragmentation, improved productivity and wall control, lowered fume risks, and much more.
Underground, 4D™ enables instantaneous energy control, automation and repeatability, maximised orebody recovery, and sustainable blasting practices.
“4D™ is a revolutionary bulk explosives technology that allows the real-time customisation of blast energy, optimising safety, productivity, and resource efficiency whilst minimising environmental impact,” Morales details.
Next Gen ShotPlus™, meanwhile, is shaping the future of drill and blast by enabling users to assess the impact of engineering decisions and design the highest-value blast for any situation.
This groundbreaking innovation combines high-performance visualisation, best-in-class design tools, and modelling capabilities to predict blast movement, damage, and vibration, leading drill and blast into a new era.
Engineers can also share the outcomes of these predictive models with multiple stakeholders, allowing for collaborative assessment of the highest-value blast designs in the context of the entire mining value chain.
Launched in September 2024, Next Gen ShotPlus™ therefore empowers drill and blast engineers to move beyond descriptive designs.
“NextGen ShotPlus™ redefines blast design and visualisation, offering advanced 3D modelling and simulation capabilities,” highlights Morales.
“It allows customers to optimise blast outcomes, streamline planning, and enhance operational efficiency.”
EBS EXPANSION
Then there’s Orica’s market-leading GroundProbe radars, which support the control of wall movements across mining operations worldwide, and i-kon™ III, the most sophisticated EBS on the market.
Reliable even in harsh conditions, i-kon™ III helps customers to achieve their blasting goals and enhances productivity through faster deployment and setup for both small and large-scale blasting.
“Our i-kon™ III EBS provides unparalleled accuracy and control, reducing the risks associated with misfires,” adds Morales.
Orica’s EBS manufacturing and supply network has been actively expanding worldwide, with new plants and equipment strategically deployed in all major regions, including EMEA, to enhance the company’s proximity to customers.
As a result, Orica has grown from two EBS manufacturing sites globally to six, significantly bolstering its EBS capacity and subsequently enhancing the company’s responsiveness to customer demands, ensuring a more robust supply chain.
Following the successful introduction of the Exel™ Neo range, with early adopters reaping the benefits, Orica is expanding its lead-free NPED technology to manufacture EBS Neo, its first lead-free EBS at its Gyttorp plant.
This is the first time Orica’s EBS are being manufactured at its state-of-the-art facility in Sweden, bolstering supply security and optimisation.
The Gyttorp plant will initially be used to assemble Orica’s standard EBS detonators and will subsequently be used to assemble the lead-free EBS range based on NPED technology.
Like the Exel™ Neo range, EBS Neo is free of any Substances of Very High Concern (SVHCs) according to the EU’s regulation on the registration, evaluation, authorisation, and restriction of chemicals (REACH).
Both product lines also comply with the EU’s Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) Directive beyond the current deadline of April 2025 and will help customers meet their own environmental, social, and governance (ESG) compliance targets.
Customer trials of EBS Neo got underway in 2024 ahead of market launch, as the company continues to explore how it can use innovative technologies to help achieve their ESG goals.
“Orica is set apart by its people, commitment to innovation, and advanced technologies, all focused on delivering exceptional value to customers and stakeholders”
Victor Morales, Vice President of EMEA Mining, Orica
INVESTMENT IN COMMUNITIES
Alongside ESG, Orica is deeply committed to corporate social responsibility (CSR) with a strong focus on community engagement.
Indeed, in 2024, the company invested USD$4 million into communities globally, which puts Orica on track to exceed its corporate community investment goal of USD$15 million by the end of FY25.
CSR projects across EMEA include promoting diversity and providing local talent opportunities, such as supporting women in technical roles in Africa and aiding social equality efforts.
Vulnerable African communities are also assisted by Orica through efforts such as combatting human trafficking in Tanzania, developing schools for children in Zambia, providing medical support in Ghana, and ensuring access to clean water in remote areas of the continent.
“These efforts reflect our ongoing dedication to creating meaningful social impact,” Morales informs us.
As well as investing in communities, Orica’s success is equally built on continuous investment in developing its people.
“We are an innovative, technology-driven company, so having the best talent is crucial – not only for driving innovation, but also fostering resilience, commitment, and a focus on generating value for all stakeholders,” he enthuses.
This dedication to continuous improvement and ability to adapt in challenging environments are key attributes of Orica’s team, which ultimately enables it to deliver exceptional and lasting value to customers and communities.
STRATEGIC ACQUISITIONS
Likewise, the company continues to invest in strategic acquisitions to enhance its offerings and expand its global footprint.
These acquisitions also further broaden Orica’s business and create global opportunities amongst new customers and industries in diverse locations.
For example, in February 2024, the company acquired Cyanco, a US-based leader in manufacturing and distributing sodium cyanide, primarily serving the gold mining industries in the US, Canada, Mexico, Latin America, and Africa.
The acquisition has enhanced the safety and reliability of Orica’s systems and processes, improved security of supply through global supply optimisation, and expanded the company’s portfolio of technologies and services to differentiate its speciality mining chemicals offering.
It has also more than doubled Orica’s existing sodium cyanide production capacity to approximately 240 kilotonnes per annum (ktpa) courtesy of Cyanco’s two manufacturing plants in Nevada and Texas.
A couple of months prior, the company expanded its digital solutions portfolio by acquiring Terra Insights, a leading provider of innovative sensors and data delivery technology for geotechnical, structural, and geospatial monitoring in mining and infrastructure.
Terra Insights adds additional products and capabilities across these two value chains, allowing Orica to provide a more complete offering.
“The acquisition of Terra Insights strengthens our capabilities in geotechnical monitoring and geological solutions, creating opportunities in the civil infrastructure environment and energy industries,” Morales acknowledges.
These acquisitions reflect Orica’s commitment to expanding beyond traditional blasting services and developing integrated, added-value technologies.
“We remain focused on identifying and investing in new technologies that drive efficiency and sustainability in mining and infrastructure operations.”
Other priorities for the year ahead include delivering greater value for customers, communities, and stakeholders.
Orica aims to support customers in achieving their sustainability goals in 2025, particularly reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, advancing the energy transition through future-facing commodities or critical minerals, and enhancing operational reliability and productivity.
“We are excited by the growth of key markets such as the copper belts in Africa and Central Asia, gold belts across Africa, mining growth in the Middle East, and major infrastructure projects in Southern Europe and the Middle East,” shares Morales.
“Our focus remains on being the preferred partner in these regions, driving sustainable growth for our customers,” he concludes.
ORACLE EMEA PARTNERS
