Miners Recycle Transmission Oil as Blasting Agent

Why It Matters

By turning a hazardous waste stream into a cost‑effective explosive fuel, the solution boosts mining profitability while delivering a sizable carbon‑reduction benefit, setting a replicable sustainability model for the global mining industry.

Key Takeaways

• Used transmission oil cuts explosive fuel costs by ~65%.
• Recycling reduces mining‑related CO2 emissions by 56.7% monthly.
• 30% of a major mine’s waste oil now repurposed for blasting.
• Strict quality control prevents VOD drops seen in 2024 incident.

Pulse Analysis

The mining sector faces mounting pressure to lower its environmental footprint while maintaining high productivity. Used transmission oil, traditionally discarded via incineration or landfilling, represents a sizable waste stream—about 30% of the oil generated at a leading Indonesian mine. By integrating this oil into emulsion explosives, MN K BME not only diverts hazardous material from the environment but also taps a low‑cost hydrocarbon source, supporting broader industry goals for circular economy practices and greenhouse‑gas mitigation.

Technical adoption, however, required rigorous testing to ensure explosive performance was not compromised. Researchers identified key challenges: additives and higher aromatics in transmission oil can destabilize the water‑in‑oil emulsion, leading to crystallisation and reduced velocity of detonation (VOD). Through a systematic matrix of six base formulations and incremental oil loadings, the team demonstrated that up to a 70:30 used‑oil blend maintained VOD above 5,200 m/s and passed stress‑ and gassing‑test criteria. The 2024 incident—where off‑spec oil caused VOD to fall from 5,123 m/s to 4,293 m/s—underscored the necessity of strict quality controls and validated the laboratory protocols now in place.

The commercial upside is compelling. Field trials reported an average VOD of 5,263 m/s, consistent fragmentation around 660 mm, and digging times near 10 seconds, confirming operational reliability. Cost analysis estimates a 65% reduction in the diesel‑fuel component of explosive production, translating into substantial savings for operators. Moreover, the approach cuts CO₂ emissions by roughly 66 tonnes per month, a 56.7% reduction. As mining companies worldwide seek to balance cost pressures with sustainability mandates, MN K BME’s oil‑recycling model offers a scalable pathway that could reshape blasting economics and environmental stewardship across the sector.