Kochi: After the explosion at Beirut port in Lebanon that killed over 100 people, Kerala must be worried as it also has a large stock of Ammonium Nitrate, which had caused the blast.

Several districts in Kerala have stocks of Ammonium Nitrate weighing between 5,000 and 35,000 kilograms. The blast in Beirut was caused by 2,750 tonnes of Ammonium Nitrate.

In Kerala, Ammonium Nitrate is mostly used as an explosive in quarries and to produce nitrous oxide for anaesthesia. The Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) has granted 17 licenses in Kerala permitting the use of Ammonium Nitrate.

Two of the licenses in Kerala, one in Ernakulam and the other in Thrissur, are for the production of nitrous oxide for anaesthesia. The remaining PESO licenses in the state are for using Ammonium Nitrate as an explosive in quarries.

In India, Ammonium Nitrate is manufactured by Deepak Fertilisers and Petrochemicals (DFPCL) in Pune, Maharashtra. Ammonium Nitrate is also imported from Russia.

“PESO has approved import of Ammonium Nitrate only through Mumbai and Visakhapatnam ports,” said Dr. R. Venugopal, deputy chief controller of explosives, PESO, Kerala- Lakshadweep. He added that there has never been an Ammonium Nitrate accident in India.

Ammonium Nitrate as an explosive

Pure Ammonium Nitrate is not an explosive on its own. But if mixed with fuel or other explosives it can cause a serious blast.

Storage

Ammonium Nitrate is stored in sacks inside concrete buildings. Sacks of Ammonium Nitrate must not be stacked above 2.5 metres in height. It must be stored 4.5 to 9 metres away from the walls depending on the storage capacity. The building must have a lightning arrester. A police officer ranked above Sub Inspector must inspect the storage facility every six months.