Protea Mining Chemicals Archives - International Mining

Omnia Holdings has rebranded Protea Mining Chemicals (PMC) under its Mining segment, BME, consolidating Omnia’s global mining offering under a unified brand to deliver what it says is a comprehensive range of solutions spanning from mining to metal processing.

The rebrand closer aligns PMC with BME’s existing operations, enhancing Omnia’s ability to offer a broad value proposition that combines mine blasting and chemical processing solutions. This shift reflects Omnia’s commitment to an integrated, cohesive approach across its business units, further strengthening its support for customers’ sustainability, quality and supply security needs.

As part of this transition, Omnia’s mining business will focus on two refreshed client value offerings: BME Blasting Solutions, providing explosives and initiation systems, and BME Metallurgy, dedicated to mining chemicals and metallurgical solutions.

Seelan Gobalsamy, CEO of Omnia, said: “Omnia is a global company with a unique customer value proposition, coupled with best-in-class infrastructure. This rebranding and focus on two distinct client value propositions will enhance our ability to deliver innovative and sustainable solutions that meet our customers’ needs across the entire mining value chain.”

The mining business’ Managing Director, Ralf Hennecke, emphasised that this closer alignment builds on BME’s international stature, leveraging the technical expertise, production infrastructure and supply chains to grow BME’s offering throughout the mining value chain.

“We continue to enhance our contribution to more aspects of the mining cycle — not only in breaking rock through advanced blast design but also in enhancing mineral processing, which improves performance efficiency for our customers,” Hennecke explains.

“This offers exciting opportunities for our customers, who will now have enhanced access to a fully integrated value proposition and solution,” he adds.

BME also continues to expand its global footprint beyond its traditional SADC markets, with significant operations in Australia, Canada, Indonesia, West Africa and growing interests in the US. This global reach, combined with BME’s expertise in blast and chemical engineering, ensures the company continues to deliver value to customers worldwide.

Diversified chemicals group, Omnia Holdings, reports its Protea Mining Chemicals division has become the first in its field – globally – to develop a solution that helps copper and cobalt mines reduce product contamination (improving metal purity levels) and maximise throughput in the solvent extraction (SX) process.

This pioneering solution took six years to develop and was carried out in partnership with chemicals manufacturers and copper and cobalt mining customers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Omnia said.

“Finding safer, more efficient ways to extract valuable resources and enhance profitability continues to be a priority in the mining sector – which has been particularly constrained by the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic,” the company said.

“This discovery will extend the life of copper and cobalt mines and assist profitability. Protea Mining Chemicals is working closely with other mines to replicate this success in other regions.”

Michael Smith, Managing Director at Protea Mining Chemicals (pictured), said: “Over the past few decades, many unsuccessful attempts have been made by mining houses, global chemical manufacturers, as well as SX equipment and process engineers to address this issue of contamination. Needless to say, this has been a very challenging journey and we are delighted by what we have been able to achieve.”

The news comes hot on the heels of Omnia’s BME breaking the South African record for the largest electronic detonator blast.

Omnia Holdings continue to enhance mining segment client value proposition

Protea Mining Chemicals develops world first copper-cobalt processing solution