BME wins industry award for safe disposal of used oil
Omnia group company BME has been recognised by the Chemical and Allied Industries’ Association (CAIA) for its contribution to a cleaner environment – winning the CAIA Responsible Care® initiative of the year award, in the company projects: Category A segment, during an online award ceremony last week.
The award was for BME’s incorporation of used oil as a base product for its emulsion explosives, removing the risk that this oil could contaminate water or soil. According to BME Managing Director (SADC) Ralf Hennecke, the initiative is part of the company’s ongoing environmental, social and governance (ESG) commitment.
“On the environmental side, our treatment and disposal of used oil in this way reduces risk and improves regulatory compliance,” said Hennecke. “The positive social impact is through our engagement of small independent enterprises to collect the used oil.”
He added that the used oil initiative also included a strong governance aspect, by meeting stakeholder requirements in terms of responsible waste management systems.
Ramesh Dhoorgapersadh, BME’s General Manager for Safety, Health, Environment and Quality (SHEQ), said the initiative reflected the company’s close collaboration with customers – where used oil from large mining customers was also collected and utilized for re-purposing and responsible disposal through the blasting process. These partnerships have been initiated in Africa and are being rolled out to BME’s global network of operations.
About BME
Blasting and explosives company, BME is an integrated provider of safe, smart, sustainable blasting solutions – collaborating closely with customers and business partners to create value across the blasting cycle. Together with Protea Mining Chemicals, BME forms the mining division of the Omnia Group – a JSE listed diversified provider of specialised chemical products and services used in the mining, agriculture, and chemicals sectors.
Formed over three decades ago on the strength of a new cold emulsion technology that has since become an industry standard, BME offers innovative products and services at every stage in the blasting supply chain. As a mid-tier, global manufacturer and supplier of explosives, related accessories and blasting services to the mining, quarrying and construction industries, its continuous improvement is driven by an agile, solutions-based approach. Its commitment to operational excellence ensures customers of fit-for-purpose solutions that optimise mining efficiency – delivered reliably through its secure supply chain. The company is committed to environmental social and governance (ESG) initiatives to underpin our sustainable strategies that protect life, sustain livelihoods, and leave a better world.
BME’s footprint covers 17 African counties including South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Swaziland, Angola, Malawi, Mozambique, DRC, Sierra Leone, Mali, Burkina Faso, Mauritania, Senegal and Eritrea. The company also has legal entities in Australia, Canada, Indonesia and the USA.
