The catastrophic explosion at Beirut port, Lebanon caused by the blast of over 2,700 tonnes of ammonium nitrate, has rocked the world.

Practice question:

Q. Despite a robust policy framework governing the hazardous chemicals in India, the recent gas leakage incident in Vizag highlights India’s unaddressed vulnerability to chemical disasters. Critically comment.

What is Ammonium Nitrate?

• In its pure form, ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3) is a white, crystalline chemical which is soluble in water.
• A common chemical ingredient of agricultural fertilizers, the nitrogen-rich compound is also the main component of the explosive composition known as ANFO — ammonium nitrate fuel oil.
• It is the main ingredient in the manufacture of commercial explosives used in mining and construction.
• Many Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) used by terrorists around the world have ANFO as the main explosive, triggered by primary explosives like RDX or TNT.
• In the majority of terror attacks in India, ammonium nitrate has been used along with initiator explosives like RDX.

Ammonium nitrate as an explosive

• Pure ammonium nitrate is not an explosive on its own.
• It is classified as an oxidiser (Grade 5.1) under the UN classification of dangerous goods.
• If mixed with ingredients like fuel or some other contaminants, or because of some other external factors, it can be very explosive.

Stored ammonium nitrate is a major fire hazard

• Large quantities of stored ammonium nitrate are regarded as a major fire hazard, with multiple reported cases across the world.
• The explosion of large storage can happen primarily in two ways.
• One is by some type of detonation or initiation because the storage comes in contact with the explosive mixture.
• Second, the blast can result due to a fire which starts in the ammonium nitrate store because of the heat generated due to the oxidation process at large scale.

Regulations in India about ammonium nitrate

• Because it is used as an ingredient for the production of explosives, anaesthetic gases, fertilizers, cold packs and has a possibility of misuse, it is highly regulated in India.
• There exists the Ammonium Nitrate Rules, 2012, under The Explosives Act, 1884.
• It defines ammonium nitrate as the compound with formula NH4NO3 including any mixture or compound having more than 45 per cent ammonium nitrate by weight.
• The manufacture, conversion, bagging, import, export, transport, possession for sale or use of ammonium nitrate is covered under The Ammonium Nitrate Rules, 2012.
• The rules also make storage of ammonium nitrate in large quantities in populated areas illegal in India.
• For the manufacture of ammonium nitrate, an Industrial licence is required under the Industrial Development and Regulation Act, 1951.

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