With a view to further amend the Ammonium Nitrate Rules, 2012 (“Principal Rules”), the Ministry of Commerce and Industry in a Notification dated 8th February 2021 has proposed to roll out the Ammonium Nitrate (Amendment) Rules 2021 (“Draft Rules”)
Objections or suggestions on the Draft Rules have been invited, which may be sent to the Additional Secretary (Explosives), Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Udyog Bhawan, New Delhi – 110 107 or sent by email by 10th March 2021.
Key Highlights of the Draft Rules have been detailed below-
| Principal Rule | Draft Rule | Implication |
| 11. Special precautions against accident
…… (4) Every person shall prevent any other person from committing any such act as is prohibited under sub-rule (1). |
11. Special precautions against accident
……… (4) Every person shall prevent any other person from committing any such act as is prohibited under sub-rule (1).
(5) Adequate firefighting facility shall be provided at ammonium nitrate storage and handling premises. |
The Draft Rules has proposed to insert a provision specifying that adequate firefighting facility must be provided at ammonium nitrate storage and handling premises. |
| 12. Restriction on unauthorised persons, provision of guards and safety distance for storehouse.
……….. (6) Any storehouse used for possession for sale or possession for use of Ammonium Nitrate shall have a floor area not less than one square metre per Metric Tonne of Ammonium Nitrate and the storehouse total holding capacity shall not exceed 5000 MT storage: Provided that one stack of bagged Ammonium Nitrate shall not exceed 200 MT and a minimum clearance of two metres shall be maintained between the adjacent stacks and at least 0.6 metre wide gangway shall be maintained between the stacks and the walls of the storehouse. Provided further that the maximum stack height shall not exceed 2.5 metres from the floor level and the same shall be prominently marked on the walls of the storehouse.
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12. Restriction on unauthorised persons, provision of guards and safety distance for storehouse.
……….. (6) Any storehouse used for possession for sale or possession for use of Ammonium Nitrate shall have a floor area not less than one square metre per Metric Tonne of Ammonium Nitrate and the storehouse total holding capacity shall not exceed 5000 MT storage: Provided that one stack of bagged Ammonium Nitrate shall not exceed 200 MT and a minimum clearance of two metres shall be maintained between the adjacent stacks and at least 0.6 metre wide gangway shall be maintained between the stacks and the walls of the storehouse. Provided further that the maximum stack height shall not exceed 2.5 metres from the floor level and the same shall be prominently marked on the walls of the storehouse. 6(a) All flooring in ammonium nitrate storage and handling area shall be without open drains, traps, pits or pockets into which any molten ammonium nitrate is able to flow and be confined in the event of fire. |
The Draft Rules proposes to insert a new provision which requires that the flooring area for ammonium nitrate storage and handling must be without open drains, traps, pits or pockets into which any molten ammonium nitrate is able to flow and be confined in the event of fire. |
| 18. Import of Ammonium Nitrate
……… (3) The imported Ammonium Nitrate shall be immediately removed from the port to the stevedores licensed storehouse. Ammonium Nitrate shall be dispatched from the stevedore’s storehouse only in bagged form and each bag of Ammonium Nitrate shall be marked by stevedoring agent in accordance with rule 9. |
18. Import of Ammonium Nitrate
………….. (3) The imported Ammonium Nitrate shall be immediately removed from the port to the stevedores licensed storehouse situated beyond 500 meters from the port notified area. Ammonium Nitrate shall be dispatched from the stevedore’s storehouse only in bagged form and each bag of Ammonium Nitrate shall be marked by stevedoring agent in accordance with rule 9. |
The Draft Rules has proposed that the stevedores licensed storehouse to which the ammonium nitrate is removed after import must be located beyond 500 meters from the port notified area. |
Source: Ministry of Commerce and Industry
