Vehicles with substandard cylinders/kits: All CNG stations told not to supply gas

ISLAMABAD: The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra), taking a serious notice of the recent blasts involving compressed natural gas (CNG) cylinders fitted in vehicles, has directed all CNG stations to immediately stop refilling CNG in all public service vehicles fitted with substandard and unauthorised CNG cylinders and kits.

The Authority gave these directions in a recently held meeting chaired by Ogra Chairman Sabir Hussain following a number of CNG cylinder blats in public service vehicles.

The meeting was attended by representatives of all Pakistan CNG Association (APCNGA), relevant officials of Ogra and officials of Hydrocarbon Development Institute of Pakistan (HDIP).

The Ogra Chairman stated that the Authority has taken serious notice of the recent fire-related accidents in CNG fitted public service vehicles and the Authority has directed all relevant departments to monitor/conduct raids on CNG stations countrywide to ensure that CNG is not being sold to vehicles with substandard cylinders and kits. The Ogra chairman announced that he himself would lead the raid campaign.

The meeting was informed by CNG wing of Ogra that the main cause of most of the fire related accidents was improper CNG fittings, location of cylinders such as under the seats or on roof tops from unauthorized roadside workshops resulting in gas leak from damaged/poor quality/unapproved fittings; and confirmed by officials of Hydrocarbon Development Institute of Pakistan (HDIP) and other approved third party inspectors. It was also pointed out that CNG stations are not following the mandatory refuelling procedure.

APCNGA was advised that CNG stations must immediately stop CNG sale to all public service vehicles which do not qualify under the laid down standards as per CNG Rules, 1992. The Ogra Chairman also advised APCNGA that all CNG stations shall follow CNG refuelling procedures in letter and spirit and check valid test certificates of CNG cylinders in all vehicles prior to filling CNG. APCNGA was also directed to constitute teams to visit CNG stations at random to ensure public safety. Moreover, a team comprising representatives of Ogra, APCNGA, HDIP and OMCs’ was constituted to check safety measures at CNG stations to ensure public safety..

Compressed natural gas (CNG) is a highly pressurised gas for which specially designed and fabricated seamless cylinders manufactured in accordance with prescribed standards are used in vehicles. Only the valid licensees/CNG stations are authorised to convert vehicles to CNG at their respective facilities and provide CNG cylinder test certificate. Therefore, only the imported CNG vehicle cylinders (brand new), within its periodic test life duly approved by Ogra, and approved CNG kit must be installed in vehicles.