PSO improves safety steps

KARACHI: In view of rise in accidents, involving oil tankers and the tragic Bahawalpur incident, Pakistan State Oil (PSO) is taking initiatives to further improve its safety measures leaving other players behind.

The past decade has seen a sharp rise in the demand for petroleum products and consequently an increase in oil tankers. Tankers offer a flexible method of transportation since they are readily available and can access any customer touch-point across all terrains of Pakistan.

An official said PSO served 3,600 dealers spread across far corners of the country through 32 depots and a massive fleet of contracted oil tankers with a low incidents record.

“PSO is taking action to mitigate transportation risks through logistical diversification. Very recently, the company signed a major agreement with Pakistan Railways; whereby, oil shipment via railways has increased to 30 percent,” the official added.

Under the agreement, PSO is now transporting around two million tons of oil/annum through railways in a safe manner as compared to road transportation and on top of that saving huge transportation cost. Moreover, the services of the National Logistics Cell (NLC) are being availed of in the movement of the highly inflammable PSO products, the official said, adding, “PSO is also supporting alternative sources of oil movement such as pipelines.”