Industrial explosives are the most tightly controlled consumable in a mining project: every kilogram must be paper-trailed from magazine to detonation, and a small loss incident can turn into a security case. This article sets out the licensing regime for industrial explosives use, storage and transport conditions, and how loss or leakage of explosives is handled under current law.
The industrial explosives control regime
- Current legal frame — Law on Management and Use of Weapons, Explosive Materials and Support Tools 42/2024/QH15 (effective 1 January 2025, replacing Law 14/2017/QH14) governs production, trading, transport, storage and use of industrial explosives; mining users need a use licence issued by the competent authority, tied to the specific site and mining purpose.
- People are a separate licence layer: blasting supervisors, shotfirers and magazine keepers must be trained, examined and certified as regulated; uncertified persons must never access explosives — the first point inspectors check at a mine.
- Storage and transport: explosives magazines must meet technical regulations on safety distances to residential areas and structures, fire/explosion-resistant construction, guarding and issue–receipt–balance ledgers; transport requires a transport licence with compliant vehicles and routes.
- Loss of explosives — instant reporting duty: users must reconcile after every blast; discovered loss or leakage must be reported immediately to police and the managing authority; allowing explosives to be lost draws heavy administrative penalties and possible criminal exposure by consequence, while individuals appropriating or illegally storing explosives are prosecuted under the Penal Code.
Running explosives discipline at the mine
- Three-way reconciliation after every blast: quantities issued, actually used and returned — three figures signed by the blasting supervisor and magazine keeper, with any discrepancy explained in writing the same day.
- Keep the licence chain in sync: use licence, per-trip transport licences, personnel certificates and magazine registration — one expired link stops all blasting; there is no ‘blast now, paper later’ grey zone.
- Drill the loss scenario like a safety scenario: who discovers, who is told within what time, how ledgers and the scene are sealed — reporting speed is what separates an ordinary administrative violation from a serious criminal case.
Explosives management is a field where paperwork discipline is literally life safety and public security. The mine that reconciles every kilogram absolutely passes every inspection; the mine whose ledgers are ‘about right’ is sitting its whole project on an uninsurable risk.
Frequently asked questions
What licences are needed to buy and use quarry explosives?
An industrial explosives use licence under Law 42/2024/QH15 tied to the mining site, transport licences for each movement, purchase from licensed explosives traders, and certified blasting personnel as regulated.
How is loss of explosives handled?
The user must report immediately to police on discovering any loss; allowing explosives to be lost draws administrative penalties and possible criminal liability depending on nature and consequences. Individuals appropriating, storing or illegally using explosives are prosecuted under the Penal Code.
What conditions must an explosives magazine meet?
National technical regulations on safety: safe distances to residential areas and structures; construction, lightning and fire protection; guarding regime, issue–receipt–balance ledgers, and management only by certified magazine keepers.
Who may actually perform blasting at a mine?
Only persons trained, examined and certified in blasting technique (blasting supervisors, shotfirers) under industrial explosives rules; uncertified participation in any blasting step is a violation.
This article has been quality-reviewed by the FLAW AI Legal Council