DPR set to sanction erring filling stations

DPR set to sanction erring filling stations

Abiodun OBA

Filling stations and gas plants that fail to provide safety equipment especially fire extinguishers, sand buckets and other necessary requirements, would be sanctioned.

The Bauchi office of the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) operation controller, Malam Abdullahi Iliyasu, gave the hint on Tuesday in Bauchi.

Iliyasu revealed that the department shall embark on a one-week sensitization tour of filling stations and existing Liquefied Petroleum Gas plants (LPG) on strict adherence to safety measures during the harmattan season.

He explained that the department would beam its searchlight on the existence or otherwise of safety equipment across filling stations, especially fire extinguishers, sand buckets and other necessary requirements, stressing that erring stations would be sanctioned.

According to him, operators of cooking Gas plants were not expected to expose gas cylinders to sunlight or any heat source, and should always observe the safety standard as stipulated by the department.

The controller cautioned that consumers who used LPG should also always check the expiry date of a gas cylinder before purchase, buy gas from certified gas plants and follow safety rules while refilling their cylinders.

He added that cooking gas users were expected to always check leakages on their cylinders and take immediate remedial measures against the possibility of an unnecessary explosion, which could be dangerous to life and property.

“We call on the general public to report to us

any unsafe practices at any cooking gas plants for action,” he said.

The enlightenment campaign would sensitize operators of filling stations, gas plants and the general public on the need for strict adherence and observance of safety measures in their stations.

“Fire outbreaks are mostly recorded during the harmattan due to the strong wind and constant use of inflammable substances like petrol, gas and charcoal, and that DPR would expose them to simple preventive safety measures,” Iliyasu said.