NPA closes down 45 fuel stations after Atomic gas explosion

The National Petroleum Authority (NPA) has closed down 45 fuel stations for non-compliance with safety standards.

According to the NPA, 37 other stations have also been marked for closure in the next few days when the level of their stock reduces to levels within the safety zone.

The action of the NPA follows the October 6, 2017, gas explosion at Atomic Junction near Madina, which resulted in the tragic death of seven people including a cameraman with Net 2 TV.

The Chief Executive Officer of NPA, Mr. Hassan Tampuli disclosed this at the launch of National Petroleum Safety Campaign under the theme, “People Safety First.”

“So far, 276 LPG refilling plants have been inspected out of the 636 distributed across the country. Forty five (45) outlets remain closed due to non-compliance with some regulatory and technical requirements.

“Thirty seven (37) outlets have been marked for closure when the level of their stocks reduces to levels within the safety zone. Twenty six (26) outlets have been reopened after a comprehensive inspection were carried out by the Inspections and Monitoring unit of the Authority. One Hundred and fourteen outlets (114) were found to be in full compliance with the prescribed safety standards. Out of the 636 registered number of refilling plants, fifty four (54) are not in operation,” he said.

Touching on the National Petroleum Safety Campaign, Hassan Tampuli explained that the campaign is intended to raise awareness for the adherence to safety protocols in the petroleum downstream industry and to educate the public on their role in preventing fires at all petroleum installations and other locations in the country.

The objectives of the National Petroleum Safety Campaign includes ‘door-to-door’ LPG safety programme to educate operators of restaurants, hotels and ‘chop-bars’ in all regions of Ghana.

“The NPA as Regulator of the petroleum downstream industry expects that the public understands the risks and dangers of not using petroleum products safely and discouraging any unconventional use of the products without seeking expert advice,” Mr Tampuli stated.

He urged the general public to adhere to the safety precautions being propagated by his outfit stressing that safety is a shared responsibility.

He stated that the NPA has intensified its monitoring and inspection activities, in collaboration with other agencies, including the Ghana National Fire Service, Environmental Protection Agency, and Factories Inspectorate Department.

The Reconstructive Plastic Surgery and Burns Centre of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital shows a worrying trend where between 35% and 40% of all burns cases admitted at the centre are caused by petroleum products since 2011 and the number has been on the rise, year on year.

It is further reported that about 45% of deaths recorded at the centre were caused by virtue of various degrees of burns resulting from petroleum and gas-related explosions suffered by the victims, resulting in their untimely death.

Tampuli said the authority views this trend as horrifying, and is intensely working to raise awareness on television, radio and various media outlets on safe ways of handling petroleum products to curb injuries and deaths from LPG, petrol, premix and other petroleum-related fires.

It is pertinent to know that some of the recent accidents in the country were caused by human factors such as failure to observe basic safe operating procedures, lack of awareness, and a complete lack of demonstrable knowledge in products handling.

Deputy Minister of Energy, Dr Mohammed Amin Adam, who read the speech of Energy Minister Boakye Agyarko, revealed that in spite of the dangers of poor safety and regulatory regimes, regulators continue to allow special interests to undermine their enforcement of safety regulations, putting the lives and property of people on the line, and, consequently, projecting the petroleum industry as insensitive, irresponsible and only motivated by profits.

Calling for an end to the laxity, he encouraged industry players to take the bold step of formulating industry safety standards through industry associations and peer review each other, and where necessary delist peers who are not keeping up with standards.

According to him, this would not only complement the role of regulators, but would embolden them to take decisive disciplinary actions against offending industry players based on industry recommendations.

He said it is essential that the NPA deemed it imperative to intensify its public education campaign on the safe use and handling of this product.

He urged the NPA and other regulators of the downstream petroleum industry to intensify their inspection regime to ensure safety compliance in the industry.

Story By: Michael Creg Afful

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