Substandard gas cylinders thrive in absence of regulatory mechanism

LAHORE

In the absence of a proper check and balance mechanism for regulating manufacturing, sale and use of LPG cylinders, numerous explosions of substandard tanks have caused loss of thousands of precious human lives so far. 

And, as per initial investigations, Thursday's gas leakage blast in DHA was the latest addition to the tragic and unfortunate incidents. Both Federal Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Resources and Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) blamed callous approach of local administration for not enforcing quality standards as sale and use of substandard gas cylinders continues unchecked.

The Punjab government is responsible for stopping manufacturing, sale and use of substandard gas cylinders, claimed federal Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Resources and Oil & Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra). According to Ogra, about eight manufactures are authorised to make Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinders. Out of them, some six manufacturing facilities are in Punjab and one each in Karachi and Islamabad.

But, numerous unauthorised manufactures continue to make and sell low quality cylinders.

Ogra should perform overall regulatory role of the LPG sector, which is not effectively being done, said Federal Minister of Petroleum and Natural Resources Shahid Khaqan Abbasi while talking to The News.

He added that OGRA was not under the control of the ministry as they did not report to them.

However, he maintained, it was a fact that Ogra lacked an enforcement mechanism to deal with manufacturing, sale and use of faulty cylinders.

There is no enforcement arm of the regulator. It is local administration that is supposed to perform oversight role about adherence to quality standards. In fact, Abbasi observed, the regulator tries to perform its duties while corresponding with provincial and local administration for enforcing an effective check and balance mechanism.

The Punjab government has been asked on several occasions to take action against manufacturing and sale of substandard cylinders. Even lists of manufacturers have been provided for taking punitive action, he maintained. He recalled that action was taken in Gujranwala lately.

On the other hand, Ogra Chairperson Uzma Adil Khan said, "We have advised enforcement to follow up with local administrators and examine." She admitted that strict action and constant vigilance and oversight were needed to check the menace, saying illegal cylinders manufactures were not Ogra's licencees. Therefore, we need assistance from civil authorities. she added.

According to LPG Distributers Association, over three thousand people have lost their lives in blasts of substandard LPG cylinders in the last about 10 years. A spokesman for the association claimed that around 400 manufactures were manufacturing low quality LPG cylinders in the country.  He blamed Ogra for not taking concrete action against the illegal manufactures.