Hanwha clinches explosives supply deal in Australia

By Jhoo Dong-chan

Hanwha Corporation has clinched a five-year-term contract with Whitehaven Coal to supply all bulk and initiating explosives and down-the-hole services. Under the deal, Hanwha is expected to supply approximately 65,000 tons of bulk explosives per year.

The two companies did not comment on the contract scale, only hinting it reaches hundreds of billions of won.

Since Hanwha entered the global mining services market through acquiring Australian mining company LDE Corporation last year, Whitehaven Coal has been one of its major clients. This contract is a sign of confidence in its operational performance and blast efficiency.

“This deal gave Hanwha an important foothold that would allow us to grow and expand the reach of global mining services,” Hanwha Corporation CEO Choi Yang-soo said.

“We are committed to providing safer and higher-quality bulk explosives and detonators to various markets around the world.”

Last month, Hanwha demonstrated its hybrid bulk explosives technology during the 9th AusIMM Open Pit Operators Conference 2016. In the demonstration, Hanwha’s explosives drew industrial attention as they minimized undesired fumes while delivering efficient blast results.

“Hanwha Corporation has done its utmost in expanding its global market while the domestic commercial explosives market remains stagnant,” a Hanwha official said.

“The overseas market is, meanwhile, witnessing continuous growth in demand owing to regional development needs arising from population growth and urbanization, particularly in Southeast Asia and Latin America.”