About

The BME Technical Summit is back! After a hiatus since the COVID years, we are reigniting this flagship gathering that once set the tone for technical excellence and collaboration across the mining industry.

This full-day summit is designed to explore the future of mining — advancing safety, driving sustainability, and delivering real customer value through integrity-driven innovation.

Why Attend?
  • Gain insights from senior industry experts and thought leaders
  • Explore cutting-edge technologies shaping mining today and tomorrow
  • Learn from real-world technical case studies and success stories
  • Connect with peers, regulators, and global experts
  • Experience live displays of equipment and blasting innovations

Key Themes
  • Sustainability: Practical strategies to reduce environmental impact and align with global ESG goals
  • Safety: Innovations that prioritise people, precision, and operational excellence
  • Responsible Business: Building stronger partnerships with customers and communities
  • Innovation in Action: Leveraging digital tools, advanced detonator technology, and sustainable emulsions

Our Commitment
At BME, we believe mining innovation must serve both today’s operations and tomorrow’s generations. This summit reaffirms our role as a trusted partner in creating safer, more sustainable, and more responsible mining solutions — together with our customers.
1
Day
13
Speakers
26
Sessions

Program

Stages
Main Stage: Mining for Today & Tomorrow, Integrity Driven Innovation

07:00

08:00

09:00

10:00

11:00

12:00

13:00

14:00

15:00

16:00

17:00

18:00

Registration

07:00 - 08:00

Opening & Welcome

08:00 - 08:10
Ralf Hennecke Ralf Hennecke

Word from Omnia Group CEO

08:10 - 08:20
Seelan Gobalsamy Seelan Gobalsamy

Blasting Science Unpacked

08:20 - 09:00
Scott Scovira Scott Scovira

Circular Thinking: Elevating Sustainability from Initiative to Imperative

09:00 - 09:30
Dr Rakhi Pathak Dr Rakhi Pathak

Morning Tea

09:30 - 10:00

Integrity-First Autonomy: Closing the Loop from Pit to Plant with Auditable AI

10:00 - 10:45
Ravi Sahu Ravi Sahu

Moving Mountains with Innovation: Sustainable Explosives for a Cleaner, More Efficient Mining Industry - Today & Tomorrow

10:45 - 11:30
Thomas Gustavsson Thomas Gustavsson

Electronic Initiation Systems (EIS): Driving Value Across the Mining Eco-system + Case Study

11:30 - 12:00
Tom Dermody Tom Dermody

Lunch

12:00 - 12:45

Blast Optimisation using Smart Drill & Loader Technology

Live
12:45 - 13:30
Robert McClure Robert McClure

Transforming Mining through Technology & Collaboration

13:30 - 14:15
Alan Tordoir Alan Tordoir

Panel Discussion: Disruptive Technology in Mining: Innovation vs. Resistance – Breaking Barriers or Building Walls?

14:15 - 15:10
Robert McClure
Alan Tordoir
Thomas Gustavsson
Ravi Sahu

Afternoon Tea

15:10 - 15:40

Fragmentation Reduction through Caprock Management

15:40 - 16:10
Tamara Whitaker Tamara Whitaker

New Era of Socio-political and Economic Cooperation

16:10 - 16:55
Dr Roelof Botha Dr Roelof Botha

Conference Session Closing

16:55 - 17:00
Dirk Voogt Dirk Voogt

Cocktail Event

17:00 - 18:30
Breakout Room 1 - Crystal Room: AXXIS Initiation Systems

07:00

08:00

09:00

10:00

11:00

12:00

13:00

14:00

15:00

16:00

17:00

18:00

Morning Tea

09:30 - 10:00

Session 1

10:00 - 11:00

Lunch

12:00 - 12:45

Session 2

Live
12:45 - 13:45

Afternoon Tea

15:10 - 15:40

Cocktail Event

17:00 - 18:30
Breakout Room 2 - Ruby Room: Blastmap & XploSmart

07:00

08:00

09:00

10:00

11:00

12:00

13:00

14:00

15:00

16:00

17:00

18:00

Morning Tea

09:30 - 10:00

Session 1

11:00 - 12:00

Lunch

12:00 - 12:45

Session 2

Live
12:45 - 13:45

Afternoon Tea

15:10 - 15:40

Cocktail Event

17:00 - 18:30
Breakout Room 3 - Amethyst Room: Reactive Ground

07:00

08:00

09:00

10:00

11:00

12:00

13:00

14:00

15:00

16:00

17:00

18:00

Morning Tea

09:30 - 10:00

Session 1

10:00 - 11:00

Lunch

12:00 - 12:45

Session 2

Live
12:45 - 13:45

Afternoon Tea

15:10 - 15:40

Cocktail Event

17:00 - 18:30
Breakout Room 4 - Emerald Room: Metallurgy

07:00

08:00

09:00

10:00

11:00

12:00

13:00

14:00

15:00

16:00

17:00

18:00

Morning Tea

09:30 - 10:00

Lunch

12:00 - 12:45

Welcome

14:00 - 14:10

Mine-to-mineral Journey

14:10 - 14:30

Metal Extraction Industry Challenges and Solutions

14:30 - 14:50

Membrane Technology Overview and Application to Mining

14:50 - 15:10

Afternoon Tea

15:10 - 15:40

Activated Carbon Market Insights and Technical Optimisation

15:40 - 16:00

Session Close

16:00 - 16:05

Cocktail Event

17:00 - 18:30

Speakers

Seelan Gobalsamy
CEO Omnia Group
Ralf Hennecke
Managing Director BME
Scott Scovira
Global Manager Blasting Science and Engineering BME
Dr Rakhi Pathak
Global Manager: Strategic Partnerships BME
Ravi Sahu
Founder & CEO Strayos
Thomas Gustavsson
CEO Hypex Bio Explosives Technology
Tom Dermody
International Technology & Field Services Manager BME
Robert McClure
President R.A. McClure Inc.
Alan Tordoir
Director: Mining Tech & Portfolio Integration, Mining Mining
Tamara Whitaker
Technical Services Manager R.A. McClure Inc.
Dr Roelof Botha
Dr Roelof Botha
Economic Advisor Optimum Investment Group
Dirk Voogt
Dirk Voogt
General Manager - Production and Logistics BME
Lungile Xulu
HR Projects & Enablement Manager

BME Breakout Session Leaders

Grant Small
Grant Small
Hennie van Niekerk
Hennie van Niekerk
Kushal Ramdal
Kushal Ramdal
Hendrik van Niekerk
Hendrik van Niekerk
Hennie du Preez
Hennie du Preez
Tinus Strauss
Tinus Strauss
Victor Krause
Victor Krause
Christiaan Liebenberg
Christiaan Liebenberg
Lefa Masiuana
Lefa Masiuana
Meagan van den Berg
Meagan van den Berg
Queeneth Vikisi
Queeneth Vikisi
Daniel Verwey
Daniel Verwey
Nobuzwe Makhotla
Nobuzwe Makhotla
Thomas Coetzee
Thomas Coetzee

Contact information

Event date:
22. October, 2025
Organizer:
BME Building H, Monte Circle, 178 Montecasino Blvd, Fourways, Sandton, 2055, South Africa Johanesburg South Africa +27 11 709 8888 [email protected]
Contact organizer