Compressed natural gas Safety Task Force Reviews Progress

Islamabad: A meeting of the Ministerial CNG Safety Task Force, chaired by Mr. Hamid Asghar Khan Joint Secretary (Admn) was held today in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources to review progress of the Task Force and to share recommendations of the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) regarding safety of CNG cylinders / kits. The meeting was attended by senior officers of OGRA, Hydrocarbon Development Institute of Pakistan (HDIP) and Chairman All Pakistan CNG Association (APCNGA).

APCNGA informed that 137 CNG stations, across Pakistan, have been pin pointed for establishment of CNG safety monitoring regime in the first phase and a list of these stations has been forwarded to OGRA for clearance. Moreover, computerized monitoring system (equipment) has been provided by APCNGA to HDIP and OGRA. The Task Force was informed that training sessions by expert engineers for CNG station personnel have been completed by HDIP in Islamabad head office, Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, and Quetta regional offices.

Criteria for vehicular monitoring and recommendations regarding placement of CNG cylinders in public service and private vehicles have been prepared by HDIP and would be shared with OGRA and APCNGA before submission to Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources.

For commercial passenger vehicles, OGRA has recommended that only two CNG cylinders be allowed in Light Transport Vehicles (LTV) and a maximum of four cylinders in Heavy Transport Vehicles (HTV) while as only one CNG cylinders be fitted in private vehicles.

The Task Force authorized HDIP to finalize location / placement of CNG Cylinders in public service vehicles after carrying out technical study. HDIP informed that technical screening of proposals for selection of third party monitoring laboratories would be completed in one week.

The Task Force Members emphasized that uniform standards for manpower and monitoring fees would be maintained across the country and recommendations finalized by the task force would be presented to Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) for approval.

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