DetNet has upgraded its blasting equipment at the Sibanye-Stillwater DigiMine, housed within the Wits Mining Institute, to the latest BlastWeb II version.
This upgrade will provide researchers and students with hands-on experience using advanced wireless CyberDet detonators while also introducing them to the new features of next-generation blasting technology, which boasts improved build quality, enhanced safety, and more advanced detonators.
This initiative is part of an ongoing partnership between DetNet and the Sibanye-Stillwater digital mining laboratory (DigiMine) at Wits Mining Institute.
According to DigiMine head Dr. Ahsan Mahboob, “This initiative is paving the way for further research and training and highlights the importance of ‘collaboration’—combining both collaboration and innovation—between academia and industry. As a flagship initiative of the WMI, we partner with many companies in the private sector to expose our students to the advanced digital aspects of mining technology.”
“Our research at DigiMine encompasses various aspects of technology to evolve the smart mine of the future,” said Dr. Mahboob. “DetNet’s electronic initiation technology is an important part of modern blasting systems that makes mining safer while promoting sustainability and productivity.”
The use of BlastWeb by postgraduate researchers at DigiMine allows them to explore potential avenues for integration with related mining systems, further advancing the ecosystem for 21st-century mining. “There are opportunities, for instance, to link blasting technologies to real-time geotechnical modeling to analyze post-blast rock stability—an important factor in making mining operations safer,” Dr. Mahboob added.
The training provided by DetNet also benefits undergraduate students in Wits University’s School of Mining Engineering, equipping them with knowledge of the latest blasting technologies as they prepare for careers in the mining sector.
According to Vinesh Naidoo, DetNet’s global market support manager, much of the learning on blast application and design is still based on traditional technologies like Shocktube and electric detonators. “With mining’s focus on safety and efficiency, it is important that new entrants to the industry are exposed to the benefits of electronic detonators and the advanced initiation systems that control blasting.”
“Through our BlastWeb II version, we embrace complex blast designs that deliver optimal results for miners while also testing each detonator and blast from the surface—ensuring a safe and accurate blast with no misfires,” explained Naidoo.
Additionally, Ntombi Mathebula, a senior mining engineer at DetNet, is responsible for training researchers at DigiMine. As a past graduate of Wits University, she highlighted the value students place on experiencing cutting-edge blasting technology firsthand. “At DetNet, we appreciate the opportunity to share our capabilities with students who are preparing for their careers in a fast-changing sector,” said Mathebula. “It is important for the mining industry that new entrants help to continuously improve operations by bringing new insights based on evolving digital and other leading technologies.”
Dr. Mahboob further noted that access to BlastWeb II significantly benefits students in their studies. “They learn more effectively by seeing and using a blast system in practice,” he said.
DetNet first donated its BlastWeb I system in 2019 to the Sibanye-Stillwater DigiMine and has since trained postgraduate students in its application. This continued collaboration underscores the company’s commitment to fostering innovation, safety, and efficiency in mining through education and industry partnerships.
