African Explosives Limited (AEL)

African Explosives Limited (AEL) was established in 1896 and has become one of the world's principal developer, producer and supplier of commercial explosives, initiating systems and blasting services for all mining, quarrying and construction markets in Africa. Initially known as the African Explosives and Industries Limited, the AEL is based and headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa, and has production facilities and offices in Ghana, Mali, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Botswana.

The African Explosives Limited (AEL) comprises of 16 businesses complimented by production facilities and offices throughout Southern Africa, Africa, and select international regions in South East Asia, South America and Europe. The African Explosives Limited (AEL) has 58 plants and 34 sites in more than 20 countries. The Group's strategy is to be the supplier of choice in the markets in which it operates and to continue to grow domestically as well as through ongoing expansion of its footprint within the geographies and markets served. In line with this strategy, businesses are managed in five growth pillars:

• Mining Solutions (AEL Intelligent Blasting, Experse and Senmin),
• Water & Process (ImproChem),
• Plant & Animal Health (Nulandis and Schirm),
• Food & Beverage (Lake Foods and Southern Canned Products), and
• Chemicals (Chemfit, Chemical Initiatives, ChemSystems, Industrial Oleochemical Products, Much Asphalt and SANS Technical Fibers). Included in this pillar is the Specialty Minerals South Africa joint venture.