Keltech Energies, (KEL), formerly known as Karnataka Explosive, a public limited company established in 1977 is a member of the renowned Chowgule Group of Goa. The group is in the fields of mining, shipping, shipbuilding, chemicals, explosives, expanded perlite, breweries and many other industries.

Keltech Energies manufactures watergel cartridge explosives, bulk emulsion explosives, mono methyl amine nitrate (MMAN) solution and a variety of expanded perlite products. Apart from the domestic market, KEL’s watergel explosives, MMAN and perlite products are also being exported to other countries.

Expanded perlite is manufactured by Keltech Energies, perlite division at Vishwasnagar near Mangalore, Karnataka. This plant setup in 1985 with technical assistance from Silibrico Corporation Inc., U S A produces a wide range of perlite products to meet the requirement of the following industries:  

• Construction and insulation  
• Cryogenic  
• Horticulture  
• Refractories  
• Explosives  
• Foundry   
• Poultry feed   
• Garment washing       

The company added a second expander in 1997 to cater to the needs of the markets in northern India. The company also has a portable expander to carryout site expansion and filling of annular space of cryogenic tanks.

KEL Perlite is a registered member of the Perlite Institute Inc., U S A and has access to the latest technical information in the application of expanded perlite. The ore for expansion is imported from Greece, Turkey, New Zealand, U S A and is selected based on the application.

KEL is an ISO certified company and has expertise to carryout thermal insulation work of cryogenic tanks.

Marketing all perlite products and turnkey installation jobs is undertaken by Chowgule Industries, a sister concern of KEL.

KEL also undertakes turnkey installation of in-situ light weight perlite-concrete blocks for base insulation of cryogenic tanks and annular insulation filling of double wall LNG tanks.

Tie Ups 

KEL obtained the technology for manufacturing Watergel explosives from M/s Dupont de Nemours Co. Inc.,USA.

The company had another technical collaboration with M/s Silbrico Corporation, USA for manufacturing expanded perlite products for use in construction, low temperature insulation, refractory, fillers, foundry, medicine carrier, thermoplastics, horticultural and other applications.

KEL is a member of the International Society of Explosives Engineers as well as the Perlite Institute Inc.

Products of Company

• Explosives
• Perlite
• Fire Proofing

Achievements/ recognition

In September 2000, the company obtained ISO 9002 accreditation through Det Norske Vertias. This was upgraded to ISO 9001-2000 version in 2002.