Govt to penalise CNG pumps for violating safety rules

Surprise raids will be conducted on filling stations.


Express December 08, 2011

ISLAMABAD:


Taking notice of incidents of cylinder explosions in vehicles, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources has issued directives for conducting raids on compressed natural gas (CNG) filling stations that provide gas without any check to vehicles having substandard kits and cylinders.


Petroleum Secretary Muhammad Ejaz Chaudhry gave the directives while chairing an emergency meeting called to discuss root causes of cylinder explosions in vehicles.

Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) chairman, Hydrocarbon Development Institute of Pakistan (HDIP) director general, representatives of Chief Inspector of Explosives (CIE), director general (gas) and senior officials of the petroleum ministry attended the meeting.

The meeting came a day after an incident in Matiari where 11 people were killed in an explosion of CNG cylinder in a vehicle.

Participants of the meeting decided that joint teams comprising representatives of the petroleum ministry, Ogra, HDIP and CIE would conduct surprise checks on CNG stations to ensure compliance with safety rules. Any filling station providing gas to vehicles having substandard CNG cylinder or fitting would be penalised and sealed.

In addition to these, a public awareness campaign will be launched to educate people about installation of quality CNG kits and cylinders from licensed and authorised dealers and to press public transport operators to install quality CNG kits and ensure their regular inspection.

Earlier, the ministry had submitted an investigative report to the prime minister, pointing out the factors behind accidents in CNG kit-fitted public vehicles. The reasons included poorly trained drivers, substandard maintenance of vehicles and improper certification by motor vehicle examiners, installation of substandard CNG cylinders and kits and control equipment by unauthorised conversion workshops, increased number of cylinders in public vehicles without considering design specifications and non-compliance with safe refueling procedure at CNG stations.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 9th, 2011.

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