Orica Limited (ASX: ORI) is an Australian-based multinational corporation that is one of the world's largest providers of commercial explosives and blasting systems to the mining, quarrying, oil and gas, and construction markets, a supplier of sodium cyanide for gold extraction, and a specialist provider of ground support services in mining and tunnelling.

Founded in 1874 as Jones, Scott and Co, a supplier of explosives during the Victorian gold rush, the company was bought by Nobel Industries.

[5] In 2010, Orica spun off Dulux leaving the company to focus on the provision of services to the mining, construction and infrastructure industries.

Orica's earnings post Ian Smith's departure experienced a significant decline as well as incurred multiple extraordinary charges.

The main chemical contaminant found in groundwater around the old ICI site is EDC (1,2-dichloroethane), a persistent organic pollutant and byproduct of the manufacture of PVC.

[20][21] An air monitor located near residents at Banksmeadow[22] detected the mercury vapour and the Office of Environment & Heritage (OEH) was notified.

[20] Robyn Parker, the New South Wales Minister for the Environment & Heritage said "I am incredibly angry and disappointed that yet again we have another incident with Orica.

The New South Wales Environment Protection Authority said the incident was not linked to the mercury emissions breach in September at Orica's other Botany site on Beauchamp Road.

[26] On 8 June 2012 the Queensland Department of Environment & Science launched a legal prosecution against Orica in the Gladstone Magistrates' Court.

[27] The government claimed that in January and February 2012, Orica discharged effluent water containing heightened levels of cyanide into Gladstone Harbour.

Effluent containing high levels of arsenic leaked into the Hunter River from the Kooragang Island chemical plant on 19 August 2011 at 3pm.

[40] Barry O'Farrell, the Premier of New South Wales, said "two spills in a fortnight raise reasonable concerns about systemic failures in the way in which this company is operating its facilities.

[42] The leak was identified by firefighters responding to an alarm raised by the hospitalisation of two railway workers at Mayfield who were affected by the plume of escaping gas.

[44] Despite initial statements by Orica that the leak posed no public health risk,[44] two rail workers in the nearby suburb of Mayfield East were overcome by ammonia fumes and were taken to hospital with breathing difficulties.

[45] The spill occurred less than a day after the Environmental Protection Authority announced it would allow the reopening of part of the Kooragang Island plant.

Acting chief environmental regulator Mark Gifford from the NSW EPA said he was concerned about the ongoing incidents with Orica.

The truck was transporting about 25 metric tons of dynamite under contract for the company Orica near the cities of Monclova and Cuatro Ciénegas.