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The pioneering landmine-clearance device which uses local labour and products and costs less than 0.0002% of the cost of current methods per landmine cleared was unveiled in the presence of international and local media.
The device combines oxygen with LPG (cooking gas) to provide a high temperature cutting flame that burns through the case of a landmine and ignites the contents. Paul Richards, inventor of the device called MineBurner, says that "MineBurner used patented pressure technology to deliver exactly the right amount of oxygen and LPG at the right pressure to an unexploded landmine to deflagrate or burn-out the mine, rendering it safe. This method is already employed using pyrotechnics which are dangerous to use and to transport. The MineBurner, however, uses materials which can be sourced locally, can be manufactured locally, thereby cutting down cost, and improving safety."
Theo van Dyk of Defencetek says the CSIR established proof of concept recently during the test conducted. "The MineBurner concept proved itself to be a strong contender to fill the operational need for a system to dispose of mines using non-explosive components or sub-systems." Van Dyk led the demonstration team at the Paardefontein site yesterday.
The unique feature of the MineBurner that it does not contain any explosive or pyrotechnical components, making it air-transportable and cheaper to get to parts of the world where it is needed. With MineBurner, the disposal cost per landmine is reduced to US$00.20, less than a thousandth of the current cost. Since the MineBurner can be manufactured locally in a mine-affected country, employment opportunities are created and rehabilitation aided.
The high explosive main charge will also not detonate through heat (it needs a shockwave to explode) and simply burns out. The required oxygen is obtained from the atmosphere using a low-cost AirSplitter filter to remove the nitrogen and LPG is locally available the world-over, thereby eliminating the requirement to transport hazardous cargo to the minefield.
Development and testing of MineBurner are complete and production will start in South Africa soon.
The United Nations estimates the cost of removal of each landmine at $300 to $1000, a cost so prohibitive at present that to remove all 110 million mines in the world would cost approximately $33 billion. A large proportion of the cost is the transportation of dangerous components, such as pyrotechnics, explosives, detonators and flammable gases.
Landmines kill or maim over 2,000 people every month, mostly civilians, many women and children, and often after hostilities have ended. For every landmine cleared, another 20 are laid.
"The research I have done into the landmine crisis, finding out the devastation caused, often to innocents, has sharpened my resolve to find a cost-effective, efficient, safe and reliable method of clearance, says Richards. After years of research and development I am proud to be able to bring MineBurner to the de-mining industry at the demonstration in Pretoria , and hope its use will help redress the balance between landmines cleared, and landmines laid."
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The MineBurner device. |
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The burnt-out shell of an anti-tank landmine after the MineBurner has rendered it safe. |
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Theo van Dyk explains how the MineBurner will burn out an anti-personnel mine. |
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