The Government has abolished the requirement for industrial licences for production of ammonium nitrate fuel oil (ANFO) – a move that will benefit the cement and construction industry.

The chemical is used to prepare explosives used to carry out blasts in quarries or mines.

“This (the abolition of industrial licences) will help mine owners using ANFO to continue mining operations and will help the development of cement industry as well as the construction sector,” a release issued by the Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion (DIPP) stated.

The previous UPA Government had advised ANFO manufacturers back in November 2013 to apply for Industrial licence under Industries (Development & Regulation) Act, 1951.

The DIPP had received almost 300 applications for grant of industrial licence for manufacturing the chemical since then.