Atomic explosion: Close down high-risk gas stations – Akufo-Addo
President Akufo-Addo has ordered for the immediate shutdown of
high-risk LPG stations in Ghana following the Atomic Junction gas
explosion.
Seven lives were lost in last Saturday’s incident with over a 100 others suffering injuries.
Akufo-Addo’s directive is coming on the heels of a cabinet meeting held Thursday over the explosion.
To
successfully carry out the order, a task force is to be deployed within
30 days to assess the risk impact of all gas stations dotted across the
country.
“High risk stations will be immediately closed down, in
accordance with relevant law and without regard to any political or
special interests. Low risk stations will be designated for the supply
of gas for vehicles with improved safety standards,” a statement signed
by the Information Minister Mustapha Hamid said.
Meanwhile, the
government has ordered the “immediate cessation” of all construction of
facilities intended for use as gas or petroleum retail stations.
The
new directive is “until further notice” as government rolls out safety
and regulatory measures to save lives and properties in the wake of the
Atomic Junction gas explosion which claimed seven lives.
Below is the full government statement after the Cabinet meeting:
NEW GOVERNMENT REGULATORY MEASURES, FOLLOWING GAS EXPLOSION AT ATOMIC JUNCTION
On
the evening of 7th October 2017, the nation was shaken by a horrible
gas explosion at Atomic Junction in Accra, which led to the loss of
seven lives, 132 injuries and the destruction of valuable property. In
the past three years, we have been subjected to eight such incidents of
explosions. This latest incident was one too many, which we must take
all necessary steps to bring to an end.
The importance of gas,
and its use in our national economy, requires that we must develop and
enforce regulations and practices, and deploy technology to ensure the
safe use of gas and safety of our citizens.
At the Cabinet
meeting of 12th October 2017, the President of the Republic, on the
advice of Cabinet, directed that henceforth the Cylinder Recirculation
Model of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) distribution be implemented. This
model means that LPG Bottling Plants will be sited away from congested
commercial and population centers and will procure, brand, maintain and
fill empty cylinders to be distributed to consumers and households
through retail outlets. Low risk stations will be designated for the
supply of gas to vehicles. This whole exercise must be completed.
In the interim, the President has directed that the following steps
be taken to give comfort to and ensure the safety of our citizens:
1.
immediate inspection of all gas stations and the vigorous enforcement
of existing regulations by the National Petroleum Authority;
2.
review of the current licensing regime to ensure that only those with
demonstrable capacity and competence engage in the LPG distribution
business;
3. institution of mandatory training and certification
of the staff of Regulators, Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) and LPG
Marketing Companies to ensure the safe handling of LPG;
4. review
the safety protocols along the entire value chain through the combined
efforts of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the National
Petroleum Authority (NPA), Ghana Standards Authority (GSA), National
Fire Service (NFS), Town and Country Planning Department of the Ministry
of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation and the Factories
Inspectorate Department of the Ministry of Employment and Labour
Relations;
5. deployment of a task force, within 30 days, to
assess the risk that our current LPG infrastructure poses in terms of
public health and safety. High risk stations will be immediately closed
down, in accordance with relevant law and without regard to any
political or special interests. Low risk stations will be designated for
the supply of gas for vehicles with improved safety standards;
6.
the immediate incorporation of standards and guidelines developed by
Ghana Standards Authority on the handling, storage and distribution of
LPG and other petroleum products as technical regulations to strengthen
the enforcement regime;
7. the recruitment by NPA of 200 safety auditors to join the staff of the Factories Inspectorate Department of the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations to check regularly on all stations to ensure full compliance with safety standards and practices;
8. expedition of action by the Fire Service and the
Police Service of on-going investigations. Any operator or regulatory
official, against whom any act of criminal negligence is established,
will face the full rigors of the law;
9. immediate cessation,
until further notice, of all construction of facilities intended for use
as gas or petroleum retail stations.
The safety of citizens is
the paramount objective of Government, and the President will take all
necessary steps to ensure that citizens are safe.
……signed……
Hon. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid
Minister for Information
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