Autogas – OGRA Opposes LPGAS Proposal
The LPG Marketing companies, dealer and equipment manufactures/suppliers are striving hard to bring the autogas stations and provide alternative fuel for vehicles in the country. For the same, the LPG Association of Pakistan’s (LPGAP) proposed for allowing installation in resedential areas following the NFPA-58 regulations which the authority Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) has put down. Business Recoder report gives the details.
According to documents available with Business Recorder, the Authority’s rationale is that in a country like Pakistan appropriate locations of LPG dispensing stations is all the more important due to high population densities, poor traffic conditions, dismal public awareness towards safety and weak emergency response at local level. Authority said that National Fire Protection Association (NFPA-58), an International Code and Standards Organisation, provided guidelines on safety at LPG dispensing stations which do not adequately cover the safety requirements for areas around dispensing stations.
The federal government in September 2005 approved the use of LPG in automotives, subject to Ogra preparing a regulatory framework. The Authority accordingly developed regulatory framework in consultation with all the stakeholders and with approval of the federal government incorporated it in LPG Rules which were notified in March 2007.
The clause 2 (b) of the Regulatory Framework (RF) prohibits installation of LPG refuelling/dispensing in congested and residential areas: “The LPG auto refuelling/dispensing station shall not be located in congested or residential areas nor should any of the adjacent buildings be used for accommodation or public gathering of any sort.”
Documents revealed that the LPG Association of Pakistan (LPGAP) has expressed reservations on this clause terming it unnecessary if compliance with the NFPA-58 is ensured. LPGAP has argued that unsafe and unauthorised decanting of LPG, a practice which is rampant, poses a greater threat to public safety; and recommended curtailing and eradicating the decanting of LPG through rapid growth of LPG dispensing stations for which it is imperative to do away with clause 2 (b) of the Regulatory Framework. Spokesman of LPGAP has said that LPG marketing companies have sought licenses to set up LPG Autogas stations under the LPG Autogas Policy, 2005. LPG is used as an automotive fuel throughout the world including in the US, UK, India, and China. Some 10 million cars run on LPG across the globe. LPG Autogas Stations are the only way to completely eradicate the menace of illegal LPG decanting that has claimed several lives.
He said that LPG autogas stations would make product more affordable and introduce a safe and professional environment for the retail of LPG in accordance with international safety standards (NFPA-58) and best practices.
