Mpakeni- Every explosion at the Mpakeni Dam construction site is subjected to government scrutiny before it is detonated, with the Mines Department required to approve each blast as part of stringent controls governing the use of explosives at the multi-billion-emalangeni project.
Project contractor Sakhalive Joint Venture disclosed yesterday that no blasting operation is carried out without prior authorisation from the Mines Department, while every explosive brought onto the site is individually recorded, stored in licensed magazines and monitored through daily stock-taking.
The revelations emerged during a media tour of the project, where officials outlined the elaborate regulatory and security systems put in place to prevent the theft, misuse or unauthorised handling of explosives.
Sakhalive Joint Venture Project Mananger Robinson Dlamini said explosives used at the dam were stored in three licensed magazines operating under permits issued by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy through the Geological Surveys, Minerals and Mines Department.
He said the storage facilities were protected by a double perimeter fence, with the inner fence electrified using solar power and guarded by armed security personnel on a 24-hour basis.
Dlamini said accountability was central to the explosives management system, with every consignment entered into a register indicating the quantity received, the amount issued for blasting and the balance returned to storage after operations.
He said the records created a complete audit trail, enabling authorities to account for every explosive used on the project.
“The Magazine Master conducts daily stock counts and ensures compliance with the Explosives Act, while also overseeing the safe handling, transportation and storage of explosives,” he said.
As an additional security measure, workers involved in blasting operations are searched before leaving the site to ensure no explosives are removed unlawfully.
Blasting is currently confined to the spillway section of the dam between 4:30pm and 6pm. Dlamini said communities are notified of blasting schedules at least a week in advance, while warning sirens are sounded and exclusion zones established before each detonation.
He said inspections were conducted after every blast to detect possible misfires, while vibration, dust and noise levels were monitored to minimise the impact on neighbouring communities and infrastructure.
According to the contractor, the project has completed hundreds of blasting cycles without receiving complaints from surrounding communities.
The Mpakeni Dam, one of government’s flagship water infrastructure projects, is expected to enhance irrigation capacity and improve water security in the country’s Lowveld once completed.
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