Recently, the Government has revised the regulations for handling and storing Ammonium Nitrate to prevent its unauthorized use and enhance safety measures. This development comes in the wake of the dreadful Beirut Explosion in 2020, a tragic event triggered by the improper storage and handling of nearly 3,000 tons of ammonium nitrate at the city’s port.
New Rules for Ammonium Nitrate Storage
The relentless endeavour of authorities to avoid such incidents in the future has led to new rules being passed regarding the transportation and storage of ammonium nitrate. These rules mandate that upon arrival at ports, Ammonium Nitrate should be transferred to storage houses that are a minimum of 500m beyond the port area. Additional provisions have been made to enable the auction of seized amounts of ammonium nitrate, promoting swift and safe disposal.
Improvements in Storage and Handling Areas
To further ensure safety, the amended rules include the provision for adequate fire-fighting facilities in storage and handling areas. The regulations also necessitate improvements in the flooring of these areas. Consequently, these changes aim to mitigate risk by reducing the handling of loose chemicals at ports and enhancing overall safety.
About Ammonium Nitrate
Ammonium Nitrate (NH4NO3) is a water-soluble, white, crystalline chemical enriched in nitrogen. It serves various purposes due to its versatile properties. It is widely used as an agricultural fertiliser, anaesthetic gas, and cold pack production ingredient. Moreover, it is a primary component in the production of commercial explosives utilized in construction and mining.
Ammonium Nitrate as An Explosive
Ammonium Nitrate functions as the main component of the explosive composition known as ANFO (Ammonium Nitrate Fuel Oil). However, pure ammonium nitrate in itself is not an explosive; requiring a primary explosive or detonator like RDX or TNT to exhibit explosivity. Notably, many Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) deployed by terrorists worldwide utilise ANFO as the principal explosive.
Potential Fire and Explosion Hazards of Stored Ammonium Nitrate
Stored ammonium nitrate presents a significant fire hazard and can potentially cause explosions in two ways. Firstly, it may interact with an explosive mixture, resulting in a detonation. Secondly, large-scale oxidation processes can generate excessive heat, leading to fires that subsequently cause explosions.
Ammonium Nitrate Regulations: Global and Indian Perspective
At the global level, the United Nations classifies ammonium nitrate as an oxidising content (Grade 5.1) under the dangerous goods category. In contrast, Indian rules, specifically The Ammonium Nitrate Rules, 2012, cover all activities related to ammonium nitrate, including manufacture, conversion, import, export, transport, possession for sale or use. It is legally prohibited to store large quantities of ammonium nitrate in populous areas in India.
For the manufacturing of ammonium nitrate, the Industrial Development and Regulation Act, 1951 necessitates an industrial licence. Similarly, for any other activity associated with ammonium nitrate, a license under the Ammonium Nitrate Rules, 2012 is mandatory.
The persistent and strategic efforts to amend the handling and storage rules for Ammonium Nitrate signify the government’s commitment to curbing its pilferage, introducing effective fire-fighting provisions, and promoting secure ways to manage this versatile yet potentially dangerous chemical.
