Senegal Sends 3,000 Tons of Ammonium Nitrate to Mali

People in Senegal's capital, Dakar, are breathing a sigh of relief after officials removed from its port 3,050 tons of ammonium nitrate, the same substance at a slightly lesser volume that caused the explosion in Beirut last month that killed at least 190 people, injured thousands and caused extensive damage.

After the Beirut explosion, countries with ports have been scrambling to be sure they are not in a similarly vulnerable situation.

"To date, no ammonium nitrate is present at the port of Dakar," said the statement issued Wednesday by the port's communication department, adding that the evacuation of the dangerous material was completed Tuesday.

Senegal's President Macky Sall two weeks ago called for the ammonium nitrate, used to make fertilizers and explosives, to be removed immediately and safely. He also told the environment and interior ministers to implement a national plan for the inventory, auditing and securing of depots storing dangerous chemicals.

Port authorities confirmed that the material, which had been at the port for about a month, has been trucked to Mali. Despite a recent coup d'etat and sanctions imposed by the West African regional bloc, ECOWAS, about 20 trucks a day, carrying 30 tons each, were escorted by gendarmerie to Senegal's eastern border with Mali.

Mali's ministry of transport has said that the substance is intended for use by Malian mining companies in its quarries.

In a statement last week it reassured that the transport of this dangerous substance is done in strict conformity with regulations. In 2019, more than 21,000 tons were moved through Dakar port into Mali, the Mali ministry said. This year there are plans to move more than 12,700 tons, it said.

Dakar's port authorities have said they adhere to international rules for the storage and management of dangerous materials.

(Photo courtesy of Ricci Shryock/The New York Times)