The port of Senegal's capital, Dakar, reported on Thursday that it had demanded the withdrawal of some 2,700 tons of highly explosive ammonium nitrate stored in its complex — the same quantity of chemical that triggered Beirut 's devastating blast this month.

According to the general directorate of the port, which is located next to Dakar's densely populated downtown, the unidentified owner of the stock has found a warehouse for the storage of industrial chemicals outside the area.

The port strictly needs to abide by international standards for the handling and storage of hazardous materials, it added.

The port of Beirut had stored 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate for six years without safety precautions until they detonated on August 4, killing more than 150 people, wounding thousands and leaving around a quarter of a million homeless.

The Beirut explosion is a wake-up call for countries to tackle the risks of ammonium nitrate, experts say. Commonly used in fertilizers and as an industrial explosive, it is considered relatively safe to handle properly, but has caused some of the deadliest industrial accidents in the world.

Maritime Business World