Authorities in Bali moved to destroy over 90 tons of ammonium nitrate yesterday, a precaution taken to avoid the potential of a devastating explosion that befell Beirut, Lebanon in August.
The large quantity of ammonium nitrate was evidence seized from previous cases, according to the asset recovery center from the Indonesian Supreme Court.
“The evidence has been declared as resolved in 2017. But it’s only today that we can destroy them after a lot of hurdles,” Agnes Triani, who heads the center, said, adding that the state is authorized to destroy them.
Ammonium nitrate, a crystal-like white solid usually made in large industrial quantities, is made all over the world and is relatively cheap to buy. However, a large amount of material lying around for an extended period of time can be a problem, as the world witnessed with the deadly explosion in Beirut earlier this year, which killed at least 204 people and injured thousands others.
“We are hoping to finish all of this in one day. So that there are no more worries over the potential danger that could arise from ammonium nitrate that’s here in Denpasar,” Agnes said.
The ammonium nitrate in Bali had been kept at a facility in Denpasar, and authorities destroyed them yesterday around Biaung Beach. Agnes said the chemical was destroyed in a 5-meter deep burrow, into which it was thrown and drenched in water until it dissolved, before finally backfilling it with soil.
Read more news and updates from Bali here.
