AECI, a South African‑rooted mining solutions partner that connects explosives, initiating systems, process chemistry and water stewardship into one operating approach, will engage customers, investors and partners at Mining Indaba 2026 on how this integration supports safer decisions, steadier recovery and resilient licence to operate. The company will also showcase four products during the four‑day event.
Known as mining’s biggest week, Mining Indaba is Africa’s most influential mining investment forum. AECI’s established presence at the event, reflects a long‑term commitment to collaboration, responsible innovation and delivery across the value chain.
“Mining Indaba is where strategy meets operating reality,” says Dean Murray, Interim Group CEO at AECI. “Our focus is practical integration that crews can run every day. Safer energy delivery, disciplined timing, reagents that stabilise circuits and water programmes that protect assets and enable reuse. That is how sites gain control and performance becomes predictable.”
A joined‑up operating approach
AECI will use the event to show how upstream and downstream choices connect in practice:
- explosives and electronic initiation that reduce variability at source and improve timing control.
- process chemistry that improves selectivity, stability and recovery in complex ore bodies such as PGMs and copper, with practical application support on site.
- water solutions that protect equipment, improve quality and enable reuse and compliant discharge to support resilience and community trust.
- simple digital and reporting tools that make energy per tonne, recovery and water reuse visible without adding complexity for frontline teams.
To make integration real on site, each discipline needs a clear role that crews can run every day. “Chemistry plays its role by turning variable circuits into stable ones,” says Jeremy Stanley, Vice President: Strategic Marketing and Technology, Mining Chemicals at AECI. “In PGM and copper environments, targeted reagents improve selectivity and recovery while keeping the workflow familiar for operators.”
“Water is a strategic asset,” says Narisha Moodley, Vice President: Chemicals at AECI. “Conditioning influent, improving quality through treatment and designing practical reuse schemes protect equipment and help plants run within specification. It also supports trust with communities and regulators.”
Advancing safety, stewardship and future‑fit operations
AECI’s Mining Indaba messaging centres on three anchors: safety by design, environmental stewardship and future‑fit innovation. Integration across blasting, chemistry and water, supported by applied science and practical digitalisation, aims to reduce variability, extend asset life and lower operating risk in real conditions.
AECI will discuss how this shows up in day‑to‑day practice, from timing discipline and reagent selection under changing feeds to water reuse that reduces cost and exposure while strengthening compliance.
The perspective builds on last year’s presence, where AECI highlighted sustainability, digitalisation and innovation across its portfolio, alongside its long history and regional commitment. That emphasis continues in 2026, with conversations focused on practical adoption rather than one‑off demonstrations.
Conversations AECI is ready to have at Mining Indaba 2026
- How to connect blast design and plant process behaviour so circuits run with fewer surprises and energy intensity is reduced.
- Where targeted reagents can maintain recovery under changing feeds, especially in PGMs and copper, with case‑based application support.
- How influent conditioning, dust control and practical reuse reduce risk and operating cost while improving resilience and community trust.
- Simple ways to track energy per tonne, recovery and water reuse without adding complexity for site teams.
- Regional deployment models across Africa and Asia‑Pacific and how execution scales responsibly with local capability.
Illustrative product previews
To show how integration translates to the bench and the plant, AECI will briefly preview four tools from its explosives and initiation portfolio at the event: PowerBoost X² Heat Resistant, IntelliShot X, SmartShot Nano and the MiniBooster. Collectively, they are designed to connect safe energy delivery with disciplined timing, so day‑to‑day operations run with greater control and fewer interruptions.
“The product set is tight by design,” adds Murray. “It allows us to talk about integration through real tools while keeping the conversation on how plants gain control from blast to mill and water.”
Availability during Mining Indaba
AECI will be available for briefings and customer discussions across Mining Indaba 2026, with a focus on site application and tailoring to local geology, safety and performance goals. Background materials are available on request.
“We are bringing local capability to a global stage to reinforce a straightforward message: safer blasting, smarter chemistry and responsible water use are not future plans. They are how we work with customers today to build resilient operations that communities can trust,” concludes Murray.
