BME has set out the running order for its 2026 Technical Summit, and the programme is built around a single operational question: whether connected mining can actually deliver measurable results on the ground rather than remain a collection of promising technologies. The event, hosted by the Omnia Group division on 28 October 2026 at the CSIR in Pretoria, carries the theme “Connected Mining: Turning Intelligence into Impact” and will examine how mining companies can move past simply adopting more technology towards connecting systems, data, people and processes in ways that produce tangible operational outcomes.
The delivery focus runs through the entire programme, which brings together mining leaders, technology specialists, OEMs and regulators to explore the practical application of connected mining. Ralf Hennecke, Managing Director of BME, said the Summit will be framed around the industry pressures and opportunities driving this shift. As mining operations generate growing volumes of data and gain access to increasingly sophisticated digital technologies, he argued, the challenge is no longer simply what technology can do. “The real opportunity lies in how different technologies and systems can work together effectively, how intelligence can inform decision-making, and how these capabilities can translate into improved productivity, resilience and performance,” he said.
That framing points to a distinction the organisers consider critical. “The focus is firmly on moving from what is possible to what is delivering measurable value today, and from innovation and technology towards integration, execution and tangible performance gains,” Hennecke said. For an industry under continued pressure to improve productivity, resilience and performance while navigating increasingly complex operating environments, the gap between capability and execution is where the Summit’s value lies.
Nishen Hariparsad, General Manager: Technology and Marketing at BME, detailed how the programme will examine this transition from a range of perspectives. “The presentations will span intelligent mining ecosystems, AI adoption, predictive analytics, system interoperability, real-time operational visibility, drill-to-blast-to-plant integration, precision mining, mine-to-mill optimisation and operational resilience,” he said. The sessions are arranged as a progression from concept to application, ending with Hariparsad’s own presentation, Connected Mining in Practice: Drill to Plant Integration. “The session will demonstrate the integration of AXXIS™ and XPLOSMART™, focusing on real-time operational optimisation and the customer outcomes and case studies demonstrating the value of this connected approach,” he said.
Before that closing demonstration, the practical potential of connected technologies comes into sharper focus through Ravi Sahu, CEO of Strayos, whose session will concentrate on AI applications, predictive analytics and turning operational data into measurable value. Sahu founded Strayos to address data silos in mining and quarrying, with the platform integrating drone, satellite, GPS and IoT data. His session will highlight how connected data is supporting smarter blast design and operational optimisation.
Meanwhile, the question of how to overcome disconnected systems will be tackled head-on in a panel discussion titled Breaking Mining Silos Through Connected Systems. “Bringing together perspectives from Mining3, GB Keyser Mining Consultants, and R.A. McClure Inc., the panel will address system interoperability, real-time operational visibility, the connection of drill, blast and plant systems, and the challenge of scaling digital mining solutions,” Hariparsad said.
Strategic context will be provided at two levels. Seelan Gobalsamy, Chief Executive Officer of the Omnia Group, will open by addressing global market themes and the resulting volatility and disruption, explaining how strong and diversified strategic positioning, together with supply continuity and product reliability, are becoming critical differentiators that mining companies prioritise in their value chains. His perspective frames these external pressures as the structural backdrop that makes the shift to connected mining both an operational opportunity and a business imperative.
Mzila Mthenjane, CEO of the Minerals Council South Africa, will examine the strategic implications of greater connectivity, considering how integration across mining systems, infrastructure and stakeholders can strengthen African mining’s competitiveness, productivity and resilience. His session will look at how moving beyond fragmented approaches can create more connected operations where infrastructure, technology, people and processes work together to unlock sustainable performance. Complementing this, Valter Adão, Chief Executive Officer and Digital Leader at Cadena Growth Partners, will examine the development of intelligent mining ecosystems, the integration of AI into operations and connected decision-making. Adão specialises in disruptive innovation, business modernisation, emerging digital technologies and the commercialisation of high-growth businesses across Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
Hennecke summarised the thinking behind the event. “Innovation creates value when it is integrated into mining operations and used to improve decisions and outcomes,” he said. The Summit ultimately reinforces the central principle behind its 2026 theme: connected mining integrates systems, people, supply chains and partnerships to deliver measurable operational impact. “The challenge is to ensure that intelligence is connected, integrated and translated into results,” he concluded. Whether the Pretoria gathering can close that gap between capability and execution will be watched closely by an industry that has heard the promise before.