The AECI Dynamite Factory Museum is situated in Modderfontein, and is housed in an 1895 mining officials house. Find out the constructive and destructive uses for dynamit, how it is made and its purpose in the mining industry.
Find out about famous figures who shaped South Africa and how important dynamite really is in the use of explosives specifically for mining. and their influence on the industry.

With the gold rush in the 1800's also came the need for explosives for mining below the surface. Alfred Nobel, creator of the Nobel Prizes, discovered dynamite on the Witwatersrand and in 1894 Modderfontein was established and constituted the miners housing area.

The dynamite company needed to be far away from people for safety and noise and thus a park was created with fast growing trees around the plant, to channel detonations upwards, is now only open to the public via the Modderfontein Conservation club.This is because detonation testing still takes place. The modderfontein Conservation Society and the AECI nowmaintain the park

AECI plants
A number of plants were established, namely the nitric acid plant, two sulphuric acid plants and two concentration plants for the recovery of the acids.
Other necessary elements, laboratories, pump stations and cooling plant were also established.

Besides fertilizers and explosives, AECI also eventually produced insecticides, cyanide, paints and chemicals.

Visitor info
No 2 Main Street, Modderfontein
Tel: 011 606 3206
Fax: 011 606 3120
Email

Visiting Hours:
Mon to Fri - 10h00 - 14h00
Wed: 14:00-16:30