Precautionary Civil Liability for Ammonium Nitrate in Algerian Legislation

Abstract

The explosion of Ammonium Nitrate in the city of Beirut, Lebanon, on
August 4, 2020, resulted in hundreds of deaths and thousands of injuries.
Approximately 2,750 tons of this chemical agricultural fertilizer, stored in a
warehouse at the Beirut port for six years, detonated. This fertilizer was intended
to increase soil yield and fertility but, at the same time, posed a significant threat
as a potential explosive. Agricultural chemical fertilizers, including ammonium
nitrate, have become essential for intensive agriculture since the early 20th
century to ensure food security. However, their specific nature of harm and nondisappearing characteristics have prompted a reconsideration of the classical
concept of liability. This has led jurisprudence to revisit the notion of fault and
develop principles of precautionary civil liability that align with the nature of
damages resulting from their use.