Defence Ministry to import ammonium nitrate explosives required for construction industry

As a short-term solution to ammonium nitrate explosives shortage in the construction industry and other related industries, the government has approved a new mechanism to import such explosives under the Defence Ministry, with the support of the private sector, for the next one-year period.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, in his capacity as the Defence Minister, this week submitted a proposal seeking the approval of the Cabinet Ministers to take the necessary actions to import ammonium nitrate explosives to the country immediately, with the mediation of the Defence Ministry, as a short-term remedy for the shortage.

Sri Lanka State Trading (General) Corporation holds the monopoly in importing, storing and distribution of ammonium nitrate explosives required for the construction sector, which includes the cement/water gel/emulsion production industries and granite explosions.

The prevailing forex shortage and Ukraine-Russia war have led to the shortage of ammonium nitrate explosives.

“At present, a shortage of ammonium nitrate explosives exists within the country, due to the scarcity of foreign exchange and the failure to supply those raw materials by the supplier who supplied them on a long-term basis to Sri Lanka State Trading (General) Corporation (STC). A considerable impact on the industries utilising those chemicals has occurred due to this,” the Government Information Department said.