BME Engineered Modular Plants for Remote Mining
Mining operators can now produce explosives on-site using containerized units that reduce transport risks.
Updated on Oct. 7, 2026 in Manufacturing
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BME, an Omnia Holdings company, has developed modular emulsion plants built into shipping containers to manufacture blasting explosives at remote mine sites. These systems allow operators to scale production to match demand while mitigating risks associated with transporting hazardous materials.
Why it matters
On-site production solves logistical challenges at remote locations and eliminates the safety risks inherent in transporting Class 1 explosive products. By shifting manufacturing to the point of use, operators gain better control over supply chains and reduce reliance on volatile transport routes.
Modular plants support outputs ranging from 20 to over 40 tonnes per eight-hour shift, backed by 40 years of engineering development. The systems have already been deployed across several African nations, including Mali, Mauritania, Burkina Faso, Sierra Leone, the DRC, and Angola.
The players
BME
An explosives manufacturer and division of Omnia Holdings that specializes in industrial blasting solutions for the mining sector.
Omnia Holdings
A diversified chemicals company providing essential solutions to the mining, agriculture, and manufacturing industries globally.
The details
The plants utilize standardized shipping containers with pre-installed utility interfaces, allowing operators to scale capacity by adding modules as mining demand fluctuates. Raw materials are classified as Class 5.1 oxidizers, which are significantly less hazardous than pre-made explosives. Chemical sensitization only occurs once the emulsion is loaded directly into the blast hole, providing a safer handling environment throughout the production process.
Timeline
The engineering technology represents 40 years of development spanning 1986 to 2026.
Market Landscape
This move marks a departure from traditional reliance on centralized production and transport for high-risk materials. It follows a broader trend of decentralized manufacturing designed to bypass the logistical constraints imposed by strict Class 1 explosive transportation regulations.
Operators in remote areas should evaluate whether their logistics spend on hazardous material transport exceeds the capital cost of modular on-site production units. Those with high-volume needs should also assess if their current power and raw material supply chains can support the addition of modular oxidation units.
The takeaway
Modularization allows mining operators to trade long-distance supply chain risks for localized, scalable chemical production. Review your site's current transport costs for hazardous materials against the potential operational benefits of shifting to an on-site emulsion production model.
Further reading
For more insights on how site-specific production models are changing heavy industry, explore our Manufacturing section.
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