BHP Mitsui Coal’s Poitrel Mine recently broke the world record for largest blast using wireless technology on Sunday, 13 October.
The mining company successfully completed the third blast in a trial series using industry-leading Orica WebGen technology with 1.3 million cubic metres of overburden shifted in a strata blast fired with 1920 WebGen 100 units across 534 holes.
According to Jayson Smeeton, Poitrel Mine Production Manager there were significant safety and efficiency improvements to be made using the WebGen technology ORICA.
“Wireless blasting means we are able to really reduce our people’s exposure to dust in the pit, and eliminates the potential for misfires because they do not need to physically tie each hole in to the blast pattern,’’ Jayson said.
“Eliminating the need to tie in each hole also makes the process for loading explosives far more efficient, and less susceptible to wet weather delays, as the pit does not need to be shut down because of the potential risk of accidental ignition during thunderstorms.”
Poitrel Mine commenced it’s trial series in May and June this year, starting with small shots to test the technology.
The recent blast was more complicated strata blast, firing top and bottom of the shot fired at different times maximizing fragmentation while preserving the coal below.
Further production blasts, including through-seam blasts are scheduled for next 12 months.
