Recently, a leasing agreement was signed between Bharat Coal Gasification and Chemicals Limited (BCGCL) and Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL) for the upcoming Coal to Ammonium Nitrate Project at Lakhanpur, Odisha.
About Ammonium Nitrate:
Ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3) is a crystal-like white solid which is made in large industrial quantities.
It is a salt of ammonia and nitric acid.
Properties of Ammonium Nitrate:
It has a melting point of 170°C.
It is highly soluble in water; heating of the water solution decomposes the salt to nitrous oxide (laughing gas).
Applications:
It is commonly used in agriculture as a high-nitrogen fertilizer, and it has also been used as an oxidizing agent in explosives.
It is one of the base ingredients used in the manufacture of commercial explosives.
It is the main component of slurry explosives used for mining.
Legal Controls on Ammonium Nitrate in India
Under rules introduced in 2012 and updated in 2021, any mixture containing over 45% ammonium nitrate is legally classified as an explosive.
A District Magistrate may permit possession of up to 30 metric tonnes, while larger quantities need approval from the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO).
PESO issues licences for the manufacture, storage, transport, and use of large quantities of ammonium nitrate.
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