Measures against exploding vehicle cylinders finalised

Final report will be ready by January 15, after which it will be submitted to the Supreme Court and Interior minister.

ISLAMABAD:

A task force, constituted by the petroleum and natural resources secretary, has finalised its proposals pertaining to the countrywide testing and enforcement regime required to address the menace of exploding cylinders in vehicles.

Chairman of the task force, the joint secretary of the Ministry of Petroleum, held a meeting with all relevant stakeholders on Thursday, in order to finalise the ‘Action Plan’ for countrywide testing of CNG Kits, fittings and cylinders installed in vehicles to ensure public safety and to safeguard lives.

The participants unanimously agreed that only uniform and approved testing equipment will be used for testing at public and private centers, which will operate under government guidelines. Engineers will head all testing centers and staff will be trained diploma holders.

The participants also agreed that a uniform testing fee will be decided by the Oil and Gas Regulation Authority (OGRA), which will be applicable throughout the country for all testing centers. It was decided that cylinders have to be disallowed under seats and in cabins of public transport vehicles.

Testing equipment will be selected by the chief inspector of explosives and HDIP from an approved list of the National Accreditation Council and Pakistan Standards and Quality Authority, the meeting decided.

CNG stations will hire diploma holders to supervise refueling by staff who must be over 18. In the case of conversion centers, engineers will be hired.

Pump operators will implement the mechanism devised by the government to disallow refueling to non-tested vehicles as per their responsibility and license.

RFID chips will be affixed on tested vehicles and scanners will be installed at pumps. A central computerised data base of all vehicles will also be maintained.  Public transport that has high mileage will be tested twice a year, while private vehicles will be tested once a year.

Public Transport will have genuine third party/passenger insurance.

The participants further agreed that necessary amendments will be made to plug loopholes in the existing laws and to empower the traffic police and law enforcement agencies to launch a crackdown on unsafe practices.

The chief inspector of explosives will ensure the seizure of old/expired/non-registered/repaired cylinders, which are all unsafe. Rooftop placement of cylinders is being considered to be allowed subject to shielding, safety and technical advice by OGRA.

The final report will be ready by January 15, after which it will be submitted to the Supreme Court by the petroleum and natural resources secretary and to the interior minister through the OGRA chairman.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 13^th, 2012.