Operators seeking to manufacture explosives in Western Australia require certain approvals before they may commence operations. The manufacture of explosives often involves multiple activities, such as:
- explosives authorisation
- testing
- storage
- manufacture
- supply or export of explosives, security sensitive ammonium nitrate or dangerous goods.
Licences or permits are required for each of these activities. Further information about approvals is provided in the Overview of the explosives manufacture approval process: Information sheet.
Authorisation of an explosive
Before a licence for explosives manufacture is granted, the explosive must be authorised in Western Australia under the Dangerous Goods Safety (Explosives) Regulations 2007. If the explosive is not authorised, a test permit to trial unauthorised explosives is required.
An application for authorisation must address all of the requirements of regulation 27 the Dangerous Goods Safety (Explosives) Regulations 2007.
To learn more about authorisation of an explosive, see Explosives licences.
What explosives are authorised?
The Chief Officer must keep a register of authorised explosives. Any person may inspect the register and obtain the following information for any authorised explosive:
- the proper shipping name or generic name
- the trade name
- the classification code.
The design, formulation or constituent information for an authorised explosive is not available unless that information is otherwise publicly available.
See Authorised explosives register for a list of authorised explosives in Western Australia.
Explosives manufacturing licence
Once an explosive is authorised, application may be made for the licence(s) applicable to the manufacturing operation. Most manufacturing plants are located on government explosives reserves or State explosive facilities (SEFs).
Before a manufacturing plant may be built on a SEF, the site must be licensed and the licence holder must have a lease for the site. This process requires approval from Landgate.
Find out more about State explosive facilities (SER)
Mobile processing units (MPUs)
Mobile processing units (MPUs) are purpose-built vehicles that are used in mining operations to manufacture or blend Class 1 bulk explosives at the location of blasting.
The MPU delivers the explosive directly into the blast hole via a pump or auger. Apart from minor residues, the vehicle is not intended to transport the manufactured product.
The Dangerous Goods Safety (Explosives) Regulations 2007 defines a MPU as follows:
“A mobile processing unit (or MPU) means a vehicle or a moveable piece of equipment (also called a mobile mixing unit or MMU) designed to transport the constituents of a bulk ammonium nitrate-based explosive to the place where the explosive will be manufactured and used”.
Ammonium nitrate (AN) emulsions, suspensions and gels (UN 3375 mixtures) are transferred at the mine into MPUs for blending with various sensitisers to convert the UN 3375 mixture into Class 1 explosives. Most commonly the mixture is converted in the blast hole.
MPUs are not permitted to transport Class 1 explosives on public roads.
- Transport of explosives on roads and at mines: Guidance note
This guidance note assists in identifying the regulatory requirements for the transport of explosives in Western Australia on both public roads and mine sites. - Transport of explosives in underground mines: Information sheet
This document sets out the critical issues to consider and how they should be approached.