Orica plans mobile explosives factory in Galicia

Australian multinational Orica is planning to establish a mobile explosive manufacturing facility in Ponte Caldelas, Galicia. The project is being processed through its Spanish subsidiary, Orica Explosivos Industriales, and has been submitted to the Spanish Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge for authorization.

The proposed facility would utilize Mobile Explosive Manufacturing Units (MEMU). Unlike traditional plants that require the transport of finished explosives, these units carry raw materials to mining sites to produce explosives on-site, a method intended to reduce logistics costs and minimize the transport of hazardous goods.

The location in the A Fracha area is positioned near several mining interests, including the Doade mine, which is considered strategic by the European Commission. The company has not yet released specific details regarding the total investment, production capacity, or the expected timeline for the project.