Boliden has announced the introduction of nitrate-free, low-carbon explosive, developed through a collaboration between the mining company and Hypex Bio Explosives Technology.

This new technology not only reduces the mining industry’s CO2 footprint but also eliminates nitrogen pollution in soil and water, setting a new standard for sustainable blasting, Boliden says.

Hypex Bio’s patented explosive is a major innovation in commercial blasting – one of the most significant advancements since Alfred Nobel’s invention of dynamite over 150 years ago, the miner claims.

Back in March, Boliden announced it had become the first mining operator to sign an agreement for the production and delivery of a newly developed explosive from Hypex Bio with significantly improved environmental and climate performance. In the process, the company’s need for nitrogen treatment of water is being reduced and its climate performance is improving by around 400 t of CO2 per year, it explained.

On September 16, Boliden and Hypex Bio officially inaugurated Sweden’s first facility for manufacturing nitrate-free, climate-friendly explosives at the Kankberg mine outside Boliden.

This facility represents a new standard for the next generation of explosives, thanks to a successful partnership between the two Swedish companies committed to driving the future of sustainable and climate-resilient mining, both locally and globally.

“With a production capacity of 270 t per week, this explosive already exceeds Boliden’s current operational needs, marking a major leap in the green transition of mining operations,” Boliden says. “As we continue striving to become the world’s most climate-friendly metals supplier, this technology will play a vital role in reducing our environmental impact, both in Sweden and globally.”