|
Minae Begins Inspection of All
Gasoline Stations
The Ministerio de Ambiente y
Energía (Minae) yesterday began
the inspection of the country's
346 gasoline stations with the
objective to ensure that they
all comply with the measures set
out by the Minae for their safe
operation.
Thirty officials have been given
the task that will be carried
out during the next 12 days and
hand in a report to Minae
minister, Roberto Dobles, not
later than February 20.
The report will used to
determine which stations fail to
meet the requirements and used
to determine which stations get
to maintain their concession
(license) to operate and which
not.
Minae is undertaking the task at
this time as 205 permits come up
for renewal on February 28 and
the ministry was to reduce the
risk of repeating the tragedy at
the Shell station in downtown
Escazú last October when two
children died in that accident.
"Those that do not comply or
have serious faults in their
operations will not have their
concession permit renewed", said
Dobles, emphasizing that
gasoline stations must comply
with laws governing operations,
notwithstanding if they are new
or old.
Items like electrical,
mechanical and spill containment
are some of the points that
inspectors will be looking at
closely.
Oscar Porras, general director
of Transporte y Comercialización
de Combustible del Minae, added
that in the mechanical revision,
hoses, pipes, tubing and tanks
will be closely inspected.
Cabling, lighting and the
condition of the emergency shut
off valves are part of the
electrical inspection that
gasoline stations have to have
in good working order.
Other items that will be looked
at by inspectors is the signage
and evacuations routes and plans
of each gasoline station.
Dobles added that the
inspections will be very strict
and each gasoline station that
fails to meet the requirements
will be given a time to comply
and make the required
corrections, though he did not
specify the exact time, just
that the corrections must be
done before the expiry of their
concession or will not have it
renewed. The minister also said
that stations with minor faults
will be given 30 days to
correct.
The Minae does not have a record
of when the last time an
inspection of all gasoline
stations was made.
|
|
The
aftermath of the accident at
Shell station in downtown Escazú
last October. Two children died
in the accident when they were
trapped in the vehicle closest
to the fire. |
|
|
|
|
|
