In the light of the December 31 LPG bullet tanker accident on National Highway 47 at Puthentheruvu near here in which 10 persons were killed, the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) is taking steps to ensure better safety for the transportation of LPG.
The PESO functions under the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry to regulate and monitor the manufacture, import, export, transport possession, sale and use of explosives, petroleum products and compressed gases as envisaged under the relevant Acts.
Highly placed sources in the PESO told The Hindu that one of the immediate steps to be taken is the revision of the stability rate of all LPG transporting trucks. The source said that a fresh calculation will be undertaken with respect to different models of vehicles coming into the market.
The PESO is also considering replacing the excess flow valve in the liquid and vapour line of LPG bullet tanker trucks with an internal excess flow valve. The advantage is that any impact in the event of an accident will remain restricted internally and not externally.
If the impact causes pressure, there are two safety relief valves on top to adequately deal with the situation. The sources said that the condition of the safety relief valves has to be subjected to a compulsory annual check and certified by the PESO. Inspection will also be undertaken to verify the periodicity of the safety relief valve certificates.
Sources also said that oil companies are being advised to explore the possibility of water transport for LPG wherever possible.
