NEWS

OGRA Impose  Rs250m penalty on Shell over oil tanker blaze

ISLAMABAD( By Ghulam Fareed Anjum)The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) has imposed an accumulative penalty of over Rs250 million on Shell Pakistan Limited (SPL), holding it responsible for the Bahawalpur oil tanker tragedy that claimed over 200 lives and injured over 100 others.

The vehicle contracted by Shell’s local subsidiary crashed on a main highway in Ahmedpur East while carrying some 50,000 litres of fuel from Karachi to Lahore on June 25. It exploded minutes later, sending a fireball through crowds from a nearby village who had gathered to scavenge for the spilled fuel, despite warnings by the driver and police to stay away.

Health officials and police Friday put the death toll, which has continued to rise since the accident, at 218 people and said 38 victims were still in hospital, some in critical condition.

"The report shows that they have completely ignored the safety standards of the vehicles procured from the contractors," Ogra spokesman Imran Ghaznavi told Reuters, referring to Shell Pakistan.

Ghaznavi said Ogra had sent a list of 21 questions to Shell Pakistan about the accident but had not yet received an answer.

Ogra’s investigation found that Shell never checked if the private tanker it had hired complied with safety standards, according to a report seen by AFP.

The report said that Shell had informed the authority previously that its lorries met technical standards and that they upgrade contracted vehicles. It lambasted Shell Pakistan’s emergency response as “casual”.The company has the right to appeal against the fine and compensation demand.

The Ogra said the SPL has failed to fulfill its legal responsibility under the Ogra Ordinance 2002 and the Pakistan Oil Rules, 2016 for transporting petroleum products through tank lorries.

The Ogra also directed the SPL to pay Rs10 million in a penalty, and Rs1 million each to the families of deceased and Rs0.5 million to the injured.

The Ogra has further ordered the SPL to deposit the penalty within three working days after receiving the order.

After the June 25 tragedy in Ahmedpur Sharqian-Bahawalpur, the Ogra had deputed Third Party Inspectors (TPIs) to investigate the incident. The probe team came with a report stating that although the oil tanker had been outsourced, still the responsibility of maintaining standards lay with the Shell since it was the licensee of Ogra.

According to the investigation report, the tanker did not meet the technical standards required to carry 50,000 litres of petrol and it did not meet Ogra’s regulations and was also carrying a fake fitness certificate.

The report also said that lack of awareness among the public, the local government and motorways police delayed response to cordon off the site of the incident and it was also instrumental in failing to ward off the unfortunate incident.

According to the report, the tank lorry (TLJ-352) was hired by the SPL from its hauler, Marwat Enterprises. The said tank lorry had been found to be non-compliant to the Pakistan Petroleum Rules 1937. It was reported that the Ogra has notified technical standards for road transport vehicle, container, and equipment for transportation of petroleum and they are latest international/stringent standards.

“Whereas the said tank lorry was even not in compliance with the basic CIE requirement, therefore, it becomes evident that said tank lorry was also not in compliance with the Ogra technical standards/guidelines,” the report said.

Similarly, it was also found that the tank lorry had 4 axles; therefore, it was not compliant with the NHSO-2000, which requires five axles. Similarly, the SPL has provided a certificate of fitness by the motor vehicle examiner issued under Quetta (Annexure-VIII). However, the same was fake as confirmed by the Chief Minister Investigation Team (CMIT), Punjab, the report said.

The SPL has failed to provide the pre-load checklist of their own company. Instead, they have submitted their hauler’s — Marwat Enterprises — checklist, the report said. “If the same was in place or exercised/monitored in actual, the said lorry could have been denied for loading the product by the SPL,” the report said.

Although the SPL provided a short preliminary report, it failed to provide a detailed report within prescribed time advised by the Ogra, the report said.

In view of the probe, the Ogra is of the considered opinion that the SPL has failed to fulfil its legal responsibility under the Ogra Ordinance 2002 and the Pakistan Oil (Refining, Blending, Transportation, Storage, and Marketing) Rules, 2016 and other applicable Law/Rules in field for transporting the petroleum products through tank lorries, the Ogra order said.

“The authority in the exercise of the powers has decided to impose a penalty of Rs10 million on the SPL, which shall be deposited by the company within three working days of receipt of this order.

The SPL shall pay compensation of Rs1.0 million each to the deceased and Rs0.5 million to the injured,” it said.

SPL shall comply with the above decision, failing which the authority would be constrained to initiate a proceeding against the company to impose a further penalty or any other strict action under the law/rules interalia including suspension of marketing activity.

Talking about the future roadmap, the authority recommended that all tank lorries for transporting petroleum products to be manufactured in line with applicable safety laws/rules and regulations. In this regard, Oil Companies Advisory Committee (OCAC) shall shortlist/approve the manufacturing companies based on the best international practices and no vehicles made by the companies other than those shortlisted/approved by the OCAC be put in oil transport service.

The tank lorry to be used/added in the fleet of any OMC if the same is certified by OCAC’s approved TPIs.

Each OMC to strictly monitor/ensure the preload checklist including all safety requirements under the Petroleum Rules 1937 and any other safety regulation in force. OMCs to ensure that each tank lorry operating in the business of transporting petroleum products is manufactured in the light of relevant OGRA’s notified technical standards and the applicable Rules interalia including Petroleum Rules, 1937.

Each OMC to ensure the proper training/certification of tank lorries’ drivers to handle emergencies and spills. In addition, Medical Fitness of the drivers/attendants be carried out on regular intervals, in particular, checking use of intoxicant and only medically fit drivers be allowed to drive the vehicles.

Each OMC to furnish a time line action plan for conversion of tank lorries of their contractor/hauler to the applicable safety Laws/Rules and Regulations as explained above, in the shortest possible time and till then minimum safety measures to be ensured.

The OCAC to ensure an aggressive awareness campaign on regular basis in the Print and Electronic media for the potential danger to the public life and property.

The National Highway Authority to ensure the checking/monitoring of NHSO-2000 and Local/Motorway Police to revisit their plans for effective patrolling and quick response to containing spills and keeping the general public/mob away from the site of such accidents to avoid a loss to the life and property. Civil Defense Department of the provincial governments may consider inclusion of regular drills to respond to similar emergencies.

Motor Vehicle Examiner to revisit their SOP and ensure that tank lorries are in compliance with all the applicable Safety Laws/Rules and Regulations, prior to granting fitness certificate the subject tank lorries.

The report further said that Ogra to take stringent measures to ensure implementation of the Ogra notified technical standards for transportation of petroleum through TPIs or on its own.

Meanwhile, an SPL spokesperson said: "Shell Pakistan is presently reviewing the Ogra report in detail. It would be unhelpful to speculate on factors that may have contributed to the incident whilst other investigations are still ongoing, but we respect the role of the regulator and will consider the report as we cooperate with investigations by authorities and as we conduct our own investigation.”

A separate government inquiry into police conduct was being carried out, said Punjab government spokesman Malik Muhammed Ahmed Khan.

The chairwoman of the Ogra, Uzma Adil Khan, said many fuel companies were not meeting safety requirements introduced in 2009, and the regulatory body had been slow to enforce them. "This incident is certainly a wake-up call for all of us," she said.

The vice chairman of the Pakistan's oil tankers association, Zaman Khan, said the accident last month was an anomaly. "Tankers meet international standards," he said.

Monthly Performance of Rescue 1122

PAKPATTAN(By Our Correspondent)District Emergency Officer Dr Tahir Mehmood has sought pro-active role of the media, especially in the ongoing monsoon season to minimise flood losses.
DEO Dr Tahir Mehmood was talking to the media persons at a ceremony held to share three months performance of Rescue 1122 here the other day.
He informed that during last three months, Rescue 1122 received 31,112 calls out of which only 2,902 calls were pertaining to emergencies while 837 calls were regarding traffic accidents; 1,461were about medical emergencies; 60 were related to fire incidents;104 regarding criminal incidents and 439 were regarding different issues.
He said that the rescuers shifted 2,507 injured persons of different incidents to various hospitals after providing them with first aid.
He claimed that basic life support programmes and fire safety courses were conducted in different union councils and educational institutions. The DEO maintained that under the supervision of the Pakpattan Deputy Commissioner, Rescue 1122 is ready to deal with any flood emergency in the district, adding that flood-fighting exercises had already been conducted in Pakpattan canal to check preparedness of the rescuers.
On the occasion, AQ Naeemi and Raja Faseehul Mulk were also present.

Death toll from Ahmadpur East inferno rose to 217
BAHAWALPUR/MULTAN(By Sumaira Danish/Web Desk) The death toll from Ahmadpur East inferno rose to 217 as two more injured succumbed to their burns here in Burn Unit of Nishtar Hospital on Friday. The hospital sources confirmed the casualties. "A total of 66 injured were brought to the burn unit out of which 54 have so far lost their lives," sources added. Still eight patients are under treatment at the burn unit while four were discharged.

Rallies against India by JUD

MULTAN(By  Our Bureau Chief)The activists of Jamaatud Dawa (JUD) brought out rallies, held protests and offered funeral in absentia for the martyrs of Kashmir on eve of martyrdom day of Burhan Wani in entire South Punjab region on Friday. The JuD activists held rallies in Multan, Dera Ghazi Khan, Bahawalpur, Layyah, Lodhran, Vehari, Rajanpur, Muzaffargarh and Jampur. They carried out non-stop sloganeering against India, her occupied forces, UN and US. The clerics delivered Friday sermons on topic of liberation of Kashmir and adopted resolutions against state terrorism by India in held Kashmir.
In Multan, ghaibana namaz-e-janaza was offered at Rasheedabad followed by a Shuhada-e-Kashmir rally and a big demo. Hundreds of people including students, lawyers, traders, civil society activists and others participated in the demo. The protesters were holding placards and banners inscribed with slogans regarding freedom of Kashmir. They burnt India flags.
Speaking on the occasion, the JuD leaders said that the martyrdom of Burhan Wani infused a new passion into Kashmir movement and today every individual man, woman or child stood bravely in front of occupation forces like Burhan Wani. The pointed out that lost her nerves after seeing the strength of freedom movement stemming out of Wani's martyrdom.
They said that the Kashmiris preferred to sacrifice their blood but refused to stop raising slogans for annexation with Pakistan. "This situation has rendered Modi sleepless. His government is frightened. Indian forces are using chemical weapons to crush Kashmir freedom movement," they pointed out. They lamented that despite clear evidences of use of chemical weapons in Kashmir, the so-called flag bearers of human rights, UNO, USA and EU kept mum and instead started declaring Kashmiris terrorists.

Chief Justice LHC  Syed Mansoor Ali Shah expressed dismay over the government for not changing the law of just Rs500 punishment to the oil tankers carelessly
LAHORE(By Our Bureau Chief) Lahore High Court Chief Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah expressed dismay over the government for not changing the law of just Rs500 punishment to the oil tankers carelessly carrying ‘inflammable material’ on roads.

The chief justice gave these remarks while hearing petition of public interest seeking action against responsible of Ahmadpur East oil tanker incident which claimed lives of 190 people and left the same number of people as severely injured.
The CJ expressed wonder that why the FIR was not registered against the private oil company and the contractor who took the contractors on the road despite that the licence of the oil tanker had already expired.
Surprisingly, the Chief Justice him read the relevant law of Petroleum Act 1934 which provides only Rs 500 punishment to the owners of the vehicles who were found guilty of supplying petroleum without valid license and Rs 2000 for committing the same offence again.
The CJ directed the government to review the law and provide strict punishment to the violators of law.
Helms Foundation, an NGO, moved the petition through Advocate Safdar Shaheen Pirzada and prayed the court to fix responsibility of all departments concerned who badly failed to perform their duties which resulted into loss of previous lives in the incident of Ahmadpur East.
During the proceedings, the National Highway and Motorway Police officials confessed before the court that police could not reach the spot due to change in shift. They said Motorway police did not have training to deal with such kind of incidents. The incident took place at 5am while police reached at 7am on the spot despite that there were three police stations around the place of occurrence.
Explosives department’s official told the court that the licence of the oil tanker had expired last year. He said checking of oil tanker’s standard was the responsibility of Explosives department while fitness certificate is issued by Motor Vehicle Authority. The official said that Shell company and its contractor had been served legal notice for not renewing licence of the oil tanker.
As the judge asked the Explosives department that why action was not taken against the responsible of the incident, he replied that under the law, only Rs 500 penalty could be imposed over the violators. If FIR was registered against the local oil company then its supply could be stopped, the official stated. The reply of the official irked the Chief Justice who asked him that who had stopped them to enforce the law.
“It was responsibility of the private company to compensate the victims of oil tankers, under what law, the public money was being distributed among them,” the Chief Justice remarked.
He further remarked “Such a low fine of Rs 500! How such incidents could be controlled if there is no strict punishment? Is the federal government in slumber?” The CJ also observed that “why the law was not amended?”
The Chief Justice observed that why not the company should be declared blacklisted over committing negligence. An Ogra director told the court that Rs10 million fine had been imposed on the company.  He said Ogra had asked the company to compensate Rs 1 million to every person’s family who lost his life while Rs 500,000 to every injured and had given three days time to it to pay this compensation.
He said oil company and contractor did not comply with the check list before filling of the oil tanker which subsequently caused the incident.  Punjab Health Department also submitted report in the court stating that ‘Burn units were existing in public hospitals.
The official of the health department said that 34 Burn units in Jinnah Hospital, 72 in Nishter Hospital of Multan, 55 in Allied Hospital, Faisalabad, 10 in Holy Hospital of  Rawalpindi, 8 burn units in Mayo Hospital and 10 beds  for such patients at Gujrat Hospital. The temperature of the environment rose to 900 Celsius where the incident took place which caused serious damage while 90 per cent body of the victims got damaged to the fire, he said.
The official said that life could be saved if less then 40 or 50 percent body of a victim is burnt.
Chief Justice Shah directed the Shell’s counsel to apprise the court on next date about steps taken, if any, by the company for the compensation of the victims as it earned billions of rupees out of business. The Chief Justice adjourned the hearing for a week and sought reports from all the respondent departments.

Ogra orders Shell to pay $2.4m for tanker blast victims

ISLAMABAD( By Ghulam Fareed Anjum)Pakistan's oil and gas regulator on Friday ordered a subsidiary of Royal Dutch Shell to pay about 257 million rupees ($2.4 million) in damages and compensation for a tanker explosion that killed more than 200 people.

The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) has held Shell Pakistan Ltd (SPL) responsible for the blast in Punjab province on June 25 after the tanker carrying gasoline for the company rolled over, and villagers rushed to collect leaking fuel.
The road accident was caused by "non-professional driving/vehicle being lesser than required specs", the authority said in a report seen by Reuters.
"The report shows that they have completely ignored the safety standards of the vehicles procured from the contractors," OGRA spokesman Imran Ghaznavi told Reuters, referring to Shell Pakistan.
Shell Pakistan said in an email the company was reviewing the report, adding "we respect the role of the regulator and will consider the report as we cooperate with investigations by authorities and as we conduct our own investigation".
Shell Pakistan has said the tanker was owned by a contractor it hired to transport its fuel.
At least 217 people were killed in the explosion and 61 were injured, according to Amir Mehmood, spokesman for Victoria Hospital in nearby Bahawalpur city.
The energy regulator ordered Shell Pakistan to pay a penalty of 10 million rupees ($95,000).
In addition, the regulator ordered the company to pay one million rupees ($9,478) in compensation to the families of each of those killed and half a million ($52,750) for each person injured.
The regulator also ordered the company to upgrade its "infrastructure" in line with its standards.
The company has the right to appeal against the fine and compensation demand, he said.
The regulator also criticised police and highway authorities for failing to cordon off the accident site.
A separate government inquiry into police conduct was being carried out, said Punjab provincial government spokesman Malik Muhammed Ahmed Khan.
The chairwoman of the OGRA, Uzma Adil Khan, said many fuel companies were not meeting safety requirements introduced in 2009, and the regulatory body had been slow to enforce them.
"This incident is certainly a wake-up call for all of us," she said.
The vice chairman of the Pakistan's oil tankers association, Zaman Khan, said the accident last month was an anomaly.
"Tankers meet international standards," he said.
Punjab government's stance over passing of Orange Line Metro Train near heritage buildings in Lahore: Rana Mashhood

LAHORE(PR)Punjab Minister for Schools Education Rana Mashhood Ahmad has said that UNESCO has endorsed Punjab government's stance over passing of Orange Line Metro Train near heritage buildings in Lahore, reported Radio Pakistan.

He made this statement after attending World Heritage Conference held in Poland.
The provincial minister said the Punjab government submitted its stance in UNESCO secretariat regarding construction of Orange Line Metro Train in Lahore, and the same was also presented to members of World Heritage Conference that held in Poland.
He said international experts have agreed that Orange Line Metro Train project will not affect the heritage of Lahore.