I.C.I. plans Westport explosives factory

Press, 4 March 1978, Page 1

I.C.I. plans Westport explosives factory

\ Westport reporter Imperial Chemicals Industries (1.C.1.) plans to establish a small explosives factory at Westport. Dry blasting agents would be made at the factory, which would employ part-time workers at first, said Dr John Kernohan, manager of 1.C.1. (N.Z.) Ltd. Company representatives would be in Westport in about six to eight weeks and manufacturing on a small scale should begin in about three months, depending on what the authorities had to say.

A small factory would be built near the magazines south of Westport, and other buildings would be added if the business expanded. ,| He emphasised that the factory would be small. Dr Kernohan admitted that the demand for conventional explosives was declining but the new generation of explosives was being more widely used. The company plans to make its first full shipment of New Zealandmade ’explosives to Westport early next week. The M.V. Titoki was yesterday loading 3200 cases of explosives made at 1.C.1.’s new explosives factory at Waitawa, South Auckland. “1.C.1. will continue to use Westport as its distribution centre for explosives in the South Island.’’ said Dr Kernohan. “We are trying to provide a regular service for the supply of explosives to the South Island.” Dr Kernohan said it was 1.C.1.’s policy to produce as much explosive as the company could in New Zealand although a full range, inculdina imported varieties, would still be supplied. The announcement ends speculation about 1.C.1.’s further involvement in the New Zealand explosives trade, after a shipment to the South Island was discharged at Westport by a vessel chartered by Du Pont, a big Americanj based concern, early this I year.