After Beirut explosion, ammonium nitrate stockpile in Chennai raises concerns

Storing 740 tonnes of Ammonium Nitrate in 37 containers inside a container freight station (CFS) on the outskirts of Chennai since 2015 has raised serious concerns, following a massive blast in Lebanese capital Beirut that is suspected to have been caused by the explosive chemical.

Since the huge amount of Ammonium Nitrate was imported by Amman Chemicals based out of Karur in Tamil Nadu from South Korea without required permission, the Customs Department seized the chemical along with the containers and stored them at a container freight station in Manali near here.

Also Read: Lebanon blast killed at least 137, injured 5,000: Ministry

The consignment was seized in November 2015 after the firm’s licence was cancelled. Amman Chemicals also moved the Madras High Court against cancellation of the licence which upheld the government’s decision in 2016.

As concerns were raised over the safety of the explosive chemical store inside a CFS, the Customs Department issued a clarification on Thursday that there was no need to panic as the consignment is “securely stored.”

“The seized cargo is securely stored, and safety of the cargo and public is ensured considering the hazardous nature of the cargo. Concerned CFS is located 20 kms approximately from the city and there is no residential locality within the vicinity of 2 kilometres from this CFS. All safety measures are being taken,” T Samaya Murali, Joint Commissioner of Customs (Preventive), said in a statement.

Also Read: Beirut explosion: What is ammonium nitrate?

He added that an e-auction on the orders of the Madras High Court has already been completed and that the cargo will be disposed of within a short period following all safety measures. Sources said a team from the Petroleum & Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) also inspected the consignment and certified it safe.

Citing the huge explosion in Beirut which is understood to have been caused by Ammonium Nitrate, PMK chief S Ramadoss and environmentalists asked authorities concerned to remove the chemical from the area and ensure that no untoward incident takes place.

Environmentalist G. Sundarrajan, who runs an NGO called Poovulagin Nanbargal, said storing Ammonium Nitrate in huge quantities at one place was a risky affair and asked authorities to ensure their safety.

“The blast in Beirut due to Ammonium Nitrate has triggered tremors to the level of four in the Richter scale and it is a serious concern. The authorities should not allow 740 tonnes of the explosive chemical to be stored in one place especially when we know the condition of warehouses in India. They should split the quantities and keep them in three or four different places,” he told DH.

Ammonium Nitrate is a highly-explosive chemical used in the production of fireworks and fertilisers.