Cylinder blasts

CNG vehicles should be regularly inspected with some record so authorities, fuel providers can verify kit conditions.

In 2011, it is estimated that 2,000 people lost their lives across Pakistan in various Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) cylinder explosions, according to a report by the Civil Society Front released earlier this year. Lately, in 2012, we have seen many similar explosions, with the latest one occurring in Lahore on November 26, killing seven people while injuring others. With no abatement in the reporting of such incidents, we must examine safety regulations regarding the use of CNG kits and what measures could be taken to prevent such accidental deaths.

Despite the dangerousness and rise in explosions resulting from CNG cylinders, most public buses still operate on CNG as fuel because it is a cheaper option. Thus, with the rampant use of CNG kits, in both public and private vehicles, it must be evaluated what further measures will actually be effective in saving lives. As the All Pakistan CNG Association proposed in a plan to launch an awareness campaign earlier this year, traffic and other police should be on the lookout for kits that have not recently undergone a safety inspection. Fuel station workers can also aid in encouraging people to have their CNG kits and cylinders inspected regularly by refusing to fill gas if the vehicle has not been recently inspected — something that was also mentioned in the plan though not properly stipulated. Using a coloured sticker of sorts for each inspection period would make the operation smoother as fuel station workers could quickly verify inspection before providing gas.

The issue of preventable accidents due to substandard CNG fittings must be revisited. The regulations set forth in accordance with the ISO-9000 Certified Quality Act, which sets rules regarding the use of a product, include mandatory annual or biannual inspection of CNG kits. For effectiveness, however, these rules have to be enforced. All vehicles equipped with CNG kits should be inspected regularly with some record of proof so that the authorities and fuel service providers can easily verify the safety conditions of the kits, both in public buses and personal vehicles.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 28^th, 2012.