XN000022-1977-07-17 — Page 5

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SUN JULY 17, 1977

+IN FACT, NO COUNTRY IS BUILDING NEW DYNAMITE PLANTS ANYMORE AND THE TREND IS THAT WATER-GEL WILL EVENTUALLY TA E OVER WHEN THE OLD DYNAMITE FACTORIES ARE PHASED OUT, HE SAID.

+SIGNIFICANT FACTORS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF WA ER-GEL ARE

THE USE OF WATER AS AN INGREDIENT AND THE ABSENCE OF ANY EXPLOSIVE INGREDIENTS, SUCH AS THE HIGHLY SENSITIVE AND VOLATILE NITRO-GLYCERINE IN THE CASE OF DYNAMITE+,

MR. RANSON WAS CAREFUL TO ADD, HOWEVER, THAT WHILE WATER-GEL AND SLURRY EXPLOSIVE WAS MUCH SAFER THAN DYNAMITE, IN THAT ACCIDENTAL DETONATION FROM IMPACT, FRICTION OR FIRE WAS MOST UNLIKELY, IT WAS STILL A POWERFUL EXPLOSIVE DESERVING THE RESPECT AND CARE WHICH SHOULD BE GIVEN TO ALL EXPLOSIVES.

INDICATIONS ARE, SAID MR. RANSON, THAT WATER-GEL EXPLOSIVE CAN EFFECTIVELY REPLACE DYNAMITE FOR ALL PURPOSES IN HONG KONG.

IT HAS BEEN USED SUCCESSFULLY IN DIFFICULT TURNEL CONDITIONS AND FOR SUB-MARINE BLASTING, AND IS CURRENTLY BEING USED FOR M. T.R. EXCAVATIONS IN NATHAN ROAD, IN VARIOUS QUARRIES INCLUDING THE GOVERNMENT QUARRIES AT MOUNT BUTLER AND DIAMOND HILL, AND FOR VARIOUS PRIVATE BUILDING PROJECTS.

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