New CNG stations: Explosives department issues NOCs despite ban

OGRA receives over 40 NOCs for licences to new filling stations.

ISLAMABAD:

The dust seems to have not settled as far as CNG licences scam is concerned, as a new scandal has emerged following issuance of several no-objection certificates by the Department of Explosives, despite a ban in force, for setting up new CNG stations.

According to sources, the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) has received NOCs issued by the explosives department, which works under the Ministry of Industries, for processing cases and issuing licences to new CNG stations.

“We have received over 40 NOCs for new CNG stations,” a senior Ogra official told The Express Tribune.

He expressed surprise at how the explosives department was issuing NOCs when a ban was in force in the country due to acute shortage of gas. In an earlier case, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) was investigating the issuance of new CNG station licences during the tenure of former Ogra chairman Tauqeer Sadiq.

When approached, Ogra spokesman confirmed that the authority had received NOCs from the explosives department for new CNG stations. However, he said the NOCs were not being processed as the government had slapped a ban on new gas filling stations.

Chief Inspector Explosives M Hussain Channa was not available for comments, despite repeated attempts to reach him.

The explosives department has framed rules that empower the chief inspector explosives to test, inspect and monitor petroleum, CNG and LPG operations and ensure safety of life and property. On its part, Ogra argues that it is empowered to monitor these operations.



“In this connection, a summary is lying with the law ministry to decide and resolve the matter,” an official said, pointing out that the explosives department issued NOCs for new CNG stations despite the fact that the domain issue had not yet been resolved.

According to documents, the petroleum ministry has also questioned the credibility of chief inspector explosives. It blamed the overlapping functions of Ogra and chief inspector explosives for their failure to check the increase in explosions in gas cylinders fitted in vehicles.

The ministry also alleged that the chief inspector had appointed several third-party inspectors from the private sector, who only charge a hefty fee for certifying cylinders, but fail to stop serious accidents.

It stressed that the Department of Explosives was neither equipped to undertake safety inspection of vehicles nor was capable of regulating the work of third-party inspectors through proper oversight.

“Even its capacity to appoint competitive inspectors is also doubtful,” the ministry said, adding the department was grossly inefficient and under-employed in absence of competent and qualified professionals and skilled technicians.

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