The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra), after inspecting safety standards across the country, has given green signal to commence service to operators of 60 compressed natural gas (CNG) stations for whom it had earlier ordered gas companies to stop gas supplies.
On November 11, Ogra had ordered the two gas utilities to stop gas supplies to these CNG stations all over the country over safety standard concerns, as they were found using faulty cylinders for gas compression, which were the main cause of gas explosions at some outlets. The chairman of CNG Station Owners Association of Pakistan (CNGSOAP), Khuda Buksh, told Business Recorder on Tuesday that efforts were made by the CNG station owners to replace the defective storage cylinders as initiated by the Ogra and the Hydrocarbon Development Institute of Pakistan (HDIP) for restoration of gas supply to 60 CNG stations out of 67 in such a short span of time.
"Gas supply to two CNG stations will be also be restored by Wednesday, while the remaining five stations will be operational in a week''s time," he said.
He said that the CNG station owners must not compromise on quality and safety of CNG equipment, and urged the government to ban illegal roadside CNG conversion workshops.
He said that the association has urged the officials to immediately take strict action against such menace to avoid any future accident to save the life and property of CNG vehicle owners. He said that the association was pursuing the Austrian company, Worthington Cylinders GMBH, manufacturer of storage cylinders of CNG, to replace its defective equipment at all the 67 stations.
The CNG equipment should be in conformity with the guidelines proposed by Ogra, Malik said, adding that the association had written a letter to the Austrian company and informed it regarding such serious problems being faced by the CNG station owners. "We are waiting for its reply, which is expected in 15 days time," he added.
Commenting on illegal operators, he said, "No leniency should be given to illegal roadside workshops of CNG, by the regulatory authority, which are operating without any licence and safety guidelines and posing serious threat to the consumers." He appreciated the Co-operation of Ogra Senior Director (Operation), Javed Nazir, for speedy inspection to resume operation of the held up CNG stations.