January 10: Nepal is soon becoming self-reliant on the highly essential emulsion explosives used in construction of roads, according to a news report published by the state-run Rastriya Samachar Samiti (RSS). The explosives are especially used in big hydropower projects as well as to blast rocks in the hills and mountains to make way for road construction.

According to RSS, the country is becoming self-reliant on producing the vital explosives following an agreement between the Nepalese Army and the Ministry of Commerce to upgrade the production capacity of the country’s first emulsion explosive plant in Sunchari of Makwanpur district. As per the understanding, the plant will now start producing the double amount of explosives which it has been producing.

Anurodh Acharya, chief of the plant run by the Nepalese Army, informed that the plant has been producing 1200 metric tons of explosives annually since its establishment 15 years ago. As of now, the plant has been producing explosives from single-base propellant plant.  Acharya said necessary preparations have been made to upgrade the plant to double-base propellant.

It is said that the country’s need for explosives will be met once this upgraded plant comes into operation. Currently, new equipment are being installed at the plant to upgrade its capacity. RSS reported that Nepal’s current annual requirement of explosives is between 2500 to 3000 metric tons.