Explosive Harvesting Programme
Golden West’s Explosive Harvesting Program (EHP) a grant-based operation provided by the Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement (PM/WRA) and the U.S. Humanitarian Demining Research and Development Program (HDR&D) with an overall goal to produce high-quality main charge explosives, in Cambodia, for use in humanitarian mine action operations.
The Golden West Humanitarian Foundation has produced and supplied more than 500,000 explosive charges to the Cambodian Mine Action Centre over the years. These charges are distributed across Cambodia to destroy land mines and unexploded ordnance. The U.S. Government supports Golden West and other mine-clearance organizations, to address our own war legacy issues in Cambodia and to clean up mines left by other countries and actors.
The Golden West Humanitarian Foundation has produced and supplied more than 500,000 explosive charges to the Cambodian Mine Action Centre over the years. These charges are distributed across Cambodia to destroy land mines and unexploded ordnance. The U.S. Government supports Golden West and other mine-clearance organizations, to address our own war legacy issues in Cambodia and to clean up mines left by other countries and actors.
The Problem It Solves
Mine action organisations in Cambodia and across Southeast Asia require a continuous, reliable supply of demolition charges to destroy the ordnance they find. Without charges, clearance operations slow or stop entirely — leaving communities waiting longer to access safe land. Traditional supply chains mean long lead times, import costs, and dependency on external procurement processes.
By producing charges in-country, the Explosive Harvesting Programme removes these constraints. Charges are available when and where they are needed, at a fraction of the imported cost, enabling clearance organisations to operate moe quickly and efficiently — and ultimately freeing more land for the communities that need it.
By producing charges in-country, the Explosive Harvesting Programme removes these constraints. Charges are available when and where they are needed, at a fraction of the imported cost, enabling clearance organisations to operate moe quickly and efficiently — and ultimately freeing more land for the communities that need it.
How It Works
The programme recovers and processes explosive material from decommissioned ordnance to produce standardised demolition charges that meet the exacting quality requirements of humanitarian mine action operations. Every charge produced is tested to ensure consistent, reliable performance in the field.
The result is a closed-loop system in which Cambodia’s war legacy — the vast stocks of abandoned and defective munitions that remain a hazard across the country — is converted into a resource that accelerates the very clearance operations designed to address it.
The result is a closed-loop system in which Cambodia’s war legacy — the vast stocks of abandoned and defective munitions that remain a hazard across the country — is converted into a resource that accelerates the very clearance operations designed to address it.
Turning a war legacy into a clearance resource.
Let’s Build National Capacity
and Safer Communities Together
Lasting humanitarian impact depends on strong partnerships and shared expertise. Discover how to collaborate with Golden West and support communities worldwide.