Govt orders safety audit of all oil and gas installations

The government today ordered a safety audit of all oil and gas installations across the country after the massive fire at the Indian Oil Corp's fuel depot in Jaipur which is raging even five days after breaking out.

The decision was taken at a meeting called by Petroleum Minister Murli Deora to review safety measures in oil installations with top experts from the public, private and multi-nationals firms participating.

Deora said all oil and gas installations in the country will carry out the self safety audits by December 31.

"All oil and gas companies in the country must have their standard operating procedures (SOPs) for operations and maintenance practices," he said.

 

After the special safety audit, all oil and gas installations will have their safety audits done on a quarterly basis. "All major as wellas minor incidents in any such installation/setups in the country including that of private companies will be reported to Oil Industry Safety Directorate," he said.

Deora said a seven-member committee headed by former HPCL Chairman M B Lal will submit a report on the Jaipur fire in 60 days.

Reports from Jaipur said two tanks from which smoke was billowing out have about 6 feet and 10 feet of petrol to burn and this could be over only by tomorrow.

A survey and damage control exercise by the local administration is also underway.