Explosives need more control

Explosives need more control

JAKARTA: The House of Representatives' Commission I for
defense and security affairs called for the establishment of an
independent body to control the use of explosives.

The new body, which would supervise the production,
distribution, trade and documentation to do with explosive
materials throughout the country, would be expected to curb the
improper use of the potentially fatal materials.

The House recommended the new body on Monday following a
hearing with the board of directors of PT Dahana, the state
explosives supplier.

There have been several bombings in the country dating back to
2000, in large part, because of an absence of strict regulations
to control illegal trade and use of explosives, PT Dahana
President Director Rusbandi said.

There are nine companies authorized to produce, distribute and
trade explosives. They are state-owned firms PT Dahana, PT
Pindad, PT Pupuk Kaltim, as well as private companies PT Multi
Nitroline Kimia, PT Tridaya Esta, PT Armindo Prima, PT Trifita
Perkasa, PT Inti Cellulosa Utama Indonesia and PT Asa Karya.

Of the nine companies, only two of them, PT Dahana and PT
Pindad, have licenses to supply explosives for military purposes.
The other companies use explosives for commercial purposes,
mostly in the mining industry. -- JP