There is no problem with gas stations in communities – Oil and gas Executive
Mr Ellis Prince Antsroe, Chief Executive Officer, Antils Oil and Gas has rejected suggestions that siting fuel and gas refilling stations at the outskirts of towns was the solution to gas explosions and its related loss of lives and property.
“Settlements and businesses will always spring up around fuel stations, so what is needed is for Oil Marketing Companies to employ trained personnel with the technical know-how to operate the facilities,” he told the Ghana News Agency in an interview.
Mr Antsroe said the hazardous nature of gas required that its workforce possessed the requisite knowledge in “Health, Safety, Security and the Environment (HSSE)”.
He said it was unfortunate that most fuel and gas refilling stations placed less importance on safety measures such as having smoke or fire detectors or disaster alarm systems and charged the OMCs to adhere to international industry practices and ensure proper procedures especially during fuel distribution.
Mr Antsroe also urged the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) to ensure that prospective OMCs satisfied technical requirements to the latter while the Environmental Protection Agency prioritised constant inspection of fuel stations.
He also advised Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) operators to consider the pre-filled system of domestic gas distribution for safety and to ease congestion at the refilling stations.
Gas explosions are becoming a regular occurrence in Ghana with many calling for the relocation of fuel and gas refilling stations outside city centres.
Some community dwellers have petitioned the EPA to relocate fuel and gas refilling stations in their communities, with some resorting to street protests.
Source: GNA