What are the requirements before manufacturing explosives?

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.

Overview of the explosives manufacture approval process - information sheet - 156 Kb

The manufacture of explosives often involves multiple activities, such as testing, storage, manufacture, and supply or export of explosives, security risk substances or dangerous goods.

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 r.27 the Dangerous Goods Safety (Explosives) Regulations 2007.

The current list of authorised explosives can be found in What explosives are authorisied?

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.

What about mobile processing units (MPUs)?

The requirements for explosives manufacture using a mobile processing unit (MPU) can be found at What is a mobile processing unit?