25 March 2013
Over the past two years, a cheap but risky technique for buying gas--for use in homes, shops and restaurants--has become common. Instead of purchasing new gas cylinders, Yemenis are taking their old, used canisters to gas stations and refilling them with petroleum used for cars. Though illegal and unsafe, this is a widespread practice across the country.
The main reason it's done is that it's cheaper: instead of paying YR1,100 (around $5.20) for a new canister, the customer can purchase as little as they want to, depending on how much they can afford.
"I put YR500 ($2.50) worth of gas in my canister. I didn't have to replace it with [a more expensive] one sold by vendors," Mohammed Al-Zoraiki said.
The Gas Vendors Assembly advises people to never refill their gas canisters, which are designed for one-time use. The canisters were not designed to be refilled, Mohammad Mofareh, head of the assembly said. When they are damaged. many problems are caused. Specifically, a rubber stopper--which acts as a sealant--can tear and cause the noxious gas to leak. If overfilled, the canisters can also explode.
Gas stations are meant to sell gas to vehicles, Abd Al-Bade' Thabet, the head of the Technical Control in the Inspection and Control Department in the Yemeni Gas Company (YGC), said--not refill these small containers.
This hazardous practice spread during Yemen's popular uprising which began in 2011. Among the other legacies of the revolution was the proliferation of black markets and unauthorized business practices such as this.
In fact, during the last two years, the YGC hasn't issued a single license for a new gas station, Mohammed Ahmed Al-Bwsani, a general manager at the YGC, said. That makes it unlikely a gas station that opened during that time is operating safely.
The number of gas stations that engage in unsafe practices is still being estimated. Abdulkareem M'iad, the director of the Civil Defense Authority, said inspection teams have been working in the field to determine the size of the problem.
The need for new regulations is urgent, Mustafa Otaif, director of the Gas Coordination Department in Sana'a, said. New standards for gas stations will be set, Otaif continued, but he did not specify when. Licenses will be revoked from stations that continue to refill gas canisters and unregistered stations will be shut down.
Thabet said the YGC is not the only organization that should be held responsible for these stations. The YGC is responsible for supplying gas and supervising, he said, but "that doesn't mean the company is responsible for every minor thing."
Over the past two years, a cheap but risky technique for buying gas--for use in homes, shops and restaurants--has become common. Instead of purchasing new gas cylinders, Yemenis are taking their old, used canisters to gas stations and refilling them with petroleum used for cars. Though illegal and unsafe, this is a widespread practice across the country.
The main reason it's done is that it's cheaper: instead of paying YR1,100 (around $5.20) for a new canister, the customer can purchase as little as they want to, depending on how much they can afford.
"I put YR500 ($2.50) worth of gas in my canister. I didn't have to replace it with [a more expensive] one sold by vendors," Mohammed Al-Zoraiki said.
The Gas Vendors Assembly advises people to never refill their gas canisters, which are designed for one-time use. The canisters were not designed to be refilled, Mohammad Mofareh, head of the assembly said. When they are damaged. many problems are caused. Specifically, a rubber stopper--which acts as a sealant--can tear and cause the noxious gas to leak. If overfilled, the canisters can also explode.
Gas stations are meant to sell gas to vehicles, Abd Al-Bade' Thabet, the head of the Technical Control in the Inspection and Control Department in the Yemeni Gas Company (YGC), said--not refill these small containers.
This hazardous practice spread during Yemen's popular uprising which began in 2011. Among the other legacies of the revolution was the proliferation of black markets and unauthorized business practices such as this.
In fact, during the last two years, the YGC hasn't issued a single license for a new gas station, Mohammed Ahmed Al-Bwsani, a general manager at the YGC, said. That makes it unlikely a gas station that opened during that time is operating safely.
The number of gas stations that engage in unsafe practices is still being estimated. Abdulkareem M'iad, the director of the Civil Defense Authority, said inspection teams have been working in the field to determine the size of the problem.
The need for new regulations is urgent, Mustafa Otaif, director of the Gas Coordination Department in Sana'a, said. New standards for gas stations will be set, Otaif continued, but he did not specify when. Licenses will be revoked from stations that continue to refill gas canisters and unregistered stations will be shut down.
Thabet said the YGC is not the only organization that should be held responsible for these stations. The YGC is responsible for supplying gas and supervising, he said, but "that doesn't mean the company is responsible for every minor thing."
© Yemen Times 2013
