{"url":"https://newsforagent.com/news/2026-11-11/oceanagold-wireless-blasting-didipio","markdown_url":"https://newsforagent.com/news/2026-11-11/oceanagold-wireless-blasting-didipio.md","title":"OceanaGold Runs First Wireless Blasting Trial at Didipio","headline":"OceanaGold Philippines Completes First Wireless Blasting Trial at Didipio Mine","description":"OceanaGold Philippines completed a trial of Orica's WebGen wireless blasting at Didipio in August, the country's first.","section":"Product Launches","published_at":"2026-11-11T00:03:29+00:00","modified_at":"2026-11-11T00:03:29+00:00","author":"News Desk","key_takeaways":["OceanaGold Philippines completed the country's first trial of Orica's WebGen wireless blasting system at the Didipio mine in August.","James Isles, asset president of the Didipio mine, said wireless blasting costs more than traditional methods but reduces the number of employees needed on the ground.","The Didipio mine has also adopted AutoMine remote loader operation, an underground fiber and Wi-Fi network, and personnel and equipment tracking systems."],"companies":[{"name":"OceanaGold","is_primary":true,"profile_url":"https://akta.pro/company-profiles/0002qrb/oceanagold","website":"http://www.oceanagold.com"},{"name":"Orica","is_primary":false,"profile_url":"https://akta.pro/company-profiles/0003g3w/orica","website":"http://www.orica.com"}],"source":{"publisher":"Inquirer","title":"OceanaGold deploys first wireless blasting in PH","url":"https://business.inquirer.net/620271/oceanagold-deploys-first-wireless-blasting-in-ph"},"other_sources":[],"tags":["Product Launches","OceanaGold","Orica"],"body_markdown":"OceanaGold Philippines Inc. has completed the country's first trial of a wireless blasting system at its Didipio mine in Nueva Vizcaya, deploying Orica's WebGen technology in August. The company said the trial was the first in the Philippines and the second in Asia. The [Inquirer](https://business.inquirer.net/620271/oceanagold-deploys-first-wireless-blasting-in-ph) reported the rollout on November 11.\n\n## How WebGen Works at Didipio\n\n[OceanaGold](https://akta.pro/company-profiles/0002qrb/oceanagold) Philippines, the local subsidiary of OceanaGold Corp., said the WebGen system allows underground blasts without the physical connections normally required between explosives. The company said the technology can improve operational throughput, reduce blasting-related delays and give it flexibility in mining sequences.\n\nJames Isles, asset president of the Didipio mine, said the priority as mining goes deeper is to keep people away from higher-risk areas while maintaining safe and productive operations. Asked for more detail, Isles said wireless blasting is more expensive than traditional methods but reduces the number of employees needed on the ground.\n\n\"It also creates opportunities to simplify parts of the underground mining process, reducing unnecessary development work and allowing people and equipment to focus on higher-priority activities,\" the company said.\n\nOceanaGold said it is folding the changes into its mining processes rather than doing a single technology rollout. The Didipio operation has also adopted AutoMine technology, which lets operators run and supervise underground loaders remotely, and employees recently completed AutoMine Load and Haul Multi-Lite training. An underground fiber and Wi-Fi network supports real-time data transmission between underground work areas and surface teams.\n\n[Orica](https://akta.pro/company-profiles/0003g3w/orica) agreed in October 2026 to acquire Nelson Brothers' explosives business in North America, expanding its access to U.S. quarrying and construction customers, openPR.com reported, according to akta.pro [company records](https://akta.pro/company-data).\n\n## OceanaGold's Wider Technology Stack\n\nThe Didipio mine's MST system and Helix Dispatch provide personnel and equipment tracking, helping teams detect delays, coordinate activities and respond to operational constraints. Drones, satellite-based monitoring and ground sensors complement the tracking, and the site also uses Ventilation on Demand and predictive maintenance systems.\n\n\"Innovation is not just about demonstrating technology for its own sake. It has to change the way we work for the better by making the work safer and by helping our people and equipment work more effectively,\" Isles said.\n\n## OceanaGold's Run-Up to the Trial\n\nOceanaGold reported net income of $95.6 million for the nine months ended September, a 95% increase from a year ago despite lower sales and production, the Inquirer reported in November 2026. In October 2026, American Banking and Market News reported that OceanaGold outlined a growth strategy targeting 2026 gold production of 520,000–590,000 ounces, a 12% increase from 2025, and plans to acquire Ausgold for $549 million. Seeking Alpha reported in October 2026 that OceanaGold posted Q2 gold production of 138,800 oz and $130 million in free cash flow.\n","publisher":{"name":"News for Agent","url":"https://newsforagent.com"}}