WE ARE ONE AECI, FOR A BETTER WORLD
Our commitment to responsible and sustainable mining is central to our purpose and strategic vision.
WHO WE ARE
AECI Mining is a leading partner in making mining safer and more efficient for a better world.
We offer state-of-the-art mining chemicals that optimise mineral processing, ensuring efficiency and environmental responsibility. Our explosives portfolio caters to diverse blasting needs, enhancing safety and precision in mining operations. By prioritising sustainability and safety, our mining chemicals and explosives offerings underscore AECI Mining’s dedication to propelling the global mining sector towards a responsible and technologically advanced future.
OUR EXCO
Jaco Human
VP: Sales and Marketing – International
Morne Stiglingh
VP: Product Management and Innovation
Meagan Van Den Berg
VP: Sales and Marketing – Africa
Stuart Miller
Executive Vice President
Hirdesh Dewrajram
VP: Manufacturing and Physical Supply Chain – Mining
Phuti Maubane
Head: Human Capital – MiningĀ (Acting)
Mfundo Myeza
VP: Finance – Mining
OUR HISTORY
- 1886
- 1895
- 1896
- 1919
- 1924
- 1931
- 1932
- 1933
- 1944
- 1954
- 1957
- 1959
- 1961
- 1963
- 1966
- 1967
- 1968
- 1972
- 1974
- 1976
- 1978
- 1982
- 1983
- 1985
- 1987
- 1989
- 1994
- 1995
- 1998
- 1999
- 2001
- 2003
- 2004
- 2006
- 2007
- 2008
- 2009
- 2010
- 2011/2012
- 2014
- 2015
- 2016
- 2018
- 2019
- 2020
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1886
Gold Discovered
George Harrison discovered gold on the Witwatersrand reef and with that the largest market for dynamite exploded into existence.
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1895
First Explosives Factory
Establishment of the āZuid Afrikaansche Fabrieken voor Ontplofbare Stoffen Beperk' at Modderfontein by President Paul Kruger.
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1896
Factory Opens
On 25th April 1896 President Paul Kruger officially opened the factory on one of his rare visits to the Rand.
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1919
Two factories unite
After World War I, the Modderfontein factory and Kynoch's Umbogintwini factory amalgamated. Explosives production was centred at Modderfontein and the Umbogintwini factory went over to making fertilisers.
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1924
African Explosives & Industries Limited formed
The formation of African Explosives and Industries Limited in 1924 breathed new life into Modderfontein factory with new developments commencing on a scale that merited the title of āthe biggest commercial explosives factory in the worldā.
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1931
Sir Ernest Oppenheimer is appointed chairman
Sir Ernest Oppenheimer is appointed chairman of African Explosives and Industries Limited.
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1932
Ammonia synthesis plant
The history of AECI and of Modderfontein factory is synonymous with the history of industry in South Africa. As a generator of wealth with its products and as a creator of supporting industries, its value was incalculable.
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1933
Ammon gelignite takes off
Three thousand cases of ammon gelignite, the new ammonium nitrate explosive, were put to the test. Within five years, ammon gelignites would completely replace straight gelignites.
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1944
Name change to African Explosives & Chemical Industries
After World War II, research and development facilities were consolidated and expanded at Pinelands in Modderfontein, whilst international liaison with ICI Explosives Research and Development centres intensified.
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1954
2nd Ammonia Plant
Against a background of burgeoning activity in mining and quarrying, African Explosives & Chemical Industries Limited solidified its reputation as a pioneer of explosives and explosives accessories.
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1957
Igniter cord introduced
The company introduced the capability for sequential delay timing for capped fuse systems in narrow reef mines by introducing igniter cord, which went into production at Modderfontein in 1957 and replaced 'chesa sticks'.
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1959
Freflo and Dynagel developed
The ever-increasing range of mining activities in South Africa facilitated some pioneering work on explosives and explosives accessories for the gold, diamond, platinum, iron ore, coal, copper, asbestos and quarrying industries.
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1961
Black powder & BGP safety fuse
The production of black powder and BGP safety fuse commenced at Modderfontein. At its peak, the plant produced 300 million metres of safety fuse per year.
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1963
First pentolite boosters
Somerset West factory produces the first pentolite boosters.
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1966
ANFO introduced
The 1960s saw the introduction of porous prill ammonium nitrate that facilitated the production of ammonium nitrate fuel oil (ANFO), a new blasting agent.
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1967
No 3 Ammonia Plant commissioned
A factory was built at Modderfontein for the production of PETN and detonating cord.
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1968
Slurry explosives developed
The development of a range of slurry explosives and on-site mixing techniques ushered in a new era in explosives technology.
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1972
AE&CI abbreviation
The company name was abbreviated to AE&CI Limited in order to facilitate financial investment from overseas.
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1974
No 4 Ammonia Plant completed
In this year, a massive new nitrogen complex known as No 4 Ammonia Plant was built.
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1976
Name change to AECI Limited
The company name was changed to AECI Limited, to follow modern trends.
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1978
First emulsion patent
AECI Limited filed its first emulsion explosives patent.
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1982
Mankwe opens
The first new commercial explosives factory since 1908 was opened at Mankwe, near Rustenburg, with production of 100 million capped fuses per annum and a capacity of 80 000 tonnes of AnfexĀ® per annum.
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1983
Safety fuse produced at Mankwe
A new plant at Mankwe factory came on stream for the manufacture of safety fuse.
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1985
Wet spun safety fuse innovation
Flowing from research that had commenced in 1980, AECI developed and in 1985 industrialised, a process for manufacturing safety fuse by a wet process.
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1987
Klerksdorp operations opens
The Klerksdorp factory and distribution centre began operations.
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1989
Emulsion chemical gassing sensitisation innovation
AECI introduced emulsion chemical gassing sensitisation technology to the South African explosives industry.
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1994
Nitroglycerin plant closes
AECI was in the process of phasing out nitroglycerin production as it was a very unstable substance and had caused a number of accidents worldwide, through the years.
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1995
Somerset West explosives factory
Closure of Somerset West explosives factory in line with the centralisation policy.
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1998
AECI total ownership
In January 1998, AECI exercised its pre-emptive option to repurchase ICI's 51% share in AECI Explosives Limited thereby regaining 100% ownership.
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1999
Name Change
The company name changed from AECI Explosives Limited to African Explosives Limited (AEL).
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2001
Electronic detonators
AEL achieved the first 1 500 electronic detonator single blast (at Damang Gold Mine in Ghana) using the AEL-developed programmable SmartdetĀ® system.
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2003
DetNet joint venture
AECI and Dyno Nobel (Norway) entered into a joint venture with DetNet ā 'Changing the Way the World Mines' with electronic detonators.
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2004
AEL's head office at The Platform
AEL head office moved to The Platform in Longmeadow Business Estate, a new head office building adjacent to Modderfontein.
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2006
ISAP commences
AEL embarked on the Initiating Systems Automation Project (ISAP) in 2006 and has designed, built and commissioned a high speed automated assembly line to deliver high volumes of shock tube product within a significantly reduced cycle time relative to existing manual processes.
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2007
AEL invests in Indonesia
2007 saw AEL's first international product assembly initiative and first capital investment outside Africa in Indonesia.
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2008
World first with spray drying innovation
In February 2008 AEL's R&D team pioneered and patented the world's first commercial pyrotechnic spray drying plant, which will eventually provide all the delay powders that the company needs for its new automated assembly plant.
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2009
AEL establishes presence in North Africa
AEL successfully established a presence in North Africa and installed its emulsion plant at Sukari Gold Project in Egypt and commenced blasting operations at the mine.
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2010
New brand strategy and corporate identity
AEL launches its new logo, brand strategy and corporate identity at Indaba in February. At the same time, AEL launches its new global website.
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2011/2012
Ground-breaking innovations
PCU 010 pump, Shock Tube Uni-Delay LP Vivid, Rhino Shock Tube Connector and Powercord 8 Premium.
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2014
More trail-blazing innovations
Blast Initiation Timer (BIT), GeoShot (Electronic Delay Detonator), CE4 Tagger and Hot Hole Monitor, Vertical Drop System.
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2015
Latest innovations
InstaStem non-detonating rock-breaking cartridge.
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2016
Launch of IntelliShotā¢
A superior advanced blasting system ensuring the best blast, on time, every time.
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2018
AEL field trials latest innovation
Digidet: an electronic shock tube detonator affording customer ease of deployment.
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2019
Re-brand in line with blasting intelligence
Taking the mining industry into the era of digitalisation and smart mining.
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2020
Group Business Alignment and Rebrand
Alignment of all business across the AECI Group. Refer to attached image āGroup Alignā.
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2020
Vertical Drop
Our formulations have been transferred safely, efficiently and cost-effectively to a record breaking depth of 980m.