Blasting and metallurgy solutions company BME has appointed Meagan van den Berg as its Managing Director for Africa, a role that will support blasting operations across Africa (excluding South Africa) as well as the global metallurgy operations.
BME, a member of the Omnia Group, has developed a strong footprint in Africa since its inception in South Africa in 1984 – while also expanding internationally by establishing operations in North America, Indonesia and Australia.
According to BME Managing Director Ralf Hennecke, the new position will reinforce BME’s strategic growth in Africa (north of SA) and internationally, leveraging the company’s innovation and supply chain security to further enable global scalability.
“We are very pleased to welcome a person of Meagan’s calibre and experience into our executive team,” said Hennecke. “We believe she will bring significant value to our business at this exciting time of our development in Africa and beyond.”
Van Den Berg has 16 years of experience in the mining and explosives industry in Southern Africa, starting her career working as a mining engineer and explosives engineer. She has held management, executive and board positions, and has led diverse and multicultural teams across various countries, fostering collaboration and driving results in highly regulated and dynamic environments.
She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Mining Engineering from the University of the Witwatersrand, and a Master of Business Administration from the Gordon Institute of Business Science.
About BME
BME is part of the Omnia Group, a JSE-listed diversified provider of specialised chemical products and services used in the mining, agriculture, and chemicals sectors.
Formed nearly four decades ago on the strength of a new cold emulsion technology that has since become an industry standard, the company offers innovative products and services at every stage in the blasting supply chain. As a mid-tier, global manufacturer and supplier of explosives, related accessories and blasting services to the mining, quarrying and construction industries, its continuous improvement is driven by an agile, solutions-based approach. Its commitment to operational excellence ensures customers of fit-for-purpose solutions that optimise mining efficiency – delivered reliably through its secure supply chain. The company is committed to environmental social and governance (ESG) initiatives to underpin our sustainable strategies that innovate to enhance life, together creating a greener future.
In October 2024, Omnia Group aligned Protea Mining Chemicals (PMC) into its mining segment, BME to offer the market a holistic value proposition to its overall global customer base. It introduced BME Blasting Solutions for explosives and detonator offerings, and BME Metallurgy for mining chemicals and metallurgy solutions under the unified brand, BME. BME Blasting Solutions provides explosive and detonator solutions while BME Metallurgy provides mining chemical s and metallurgical solutions.
BME’s footprint covers 17 African counties including South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Swaziland, Angola, Malawi, Mozambique, DRC, Sierra Leone, Mali, Burkina Faso, Mauritania, Senegal and Eritrea. The company also has legal entities in Australia, Canada, Indonesia and the USA. For further information visit www.bme.co.za