The Association of Oil Marketing Companies (AOMC) has announced that it will enforce regulations on the construction of fuel stations to sanitize the industry.
According to the association, the move is aimed at enhancing safety standards in the construction of filling stations in the country.
There have been concerns in recent times on the proliferation of fuel stations in the country, particularly over their proximity to one another.
Speaking to Citi Business News, the Chief Executive Officer of the AOMC Kwaku Agyemang-Duah said that even though the law will not take retrospective effect the association will insist on the 100 meters spacing going forward.
He stated that even though many OMCs are close in proximity, the association cannot move to demolish any since most of them pre-existed the law.
“Once somebody meets the criteria you need to give it to the person. We have tightened the criteria but it cannot take retrospective effect. What we have now on paper is that there should be 100 meters difference”, he said.
Pointing out some recommendations taken by the association to enhance safety, Mr. Agyemang Duah maintained that no company has been allowed to site its filling station with a 100 meters radius to another filling station.
“That is not all, you know there are rules and regulations on even where to construct these stations. It must be situated with all the safety concerns addressed,” he said.
“If they are close before the law was passed which one are you going to break, but in the future development. We won’t allow that thing to happen, so that’s what we are doing,” he added.
He stated that once a company meets all the criteria, it cannot be denied the permission to build the fuel station.
“There will not be a restriction as such but there will be a way of tightening the criteria,” he said.
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By: Lawrence Segbefia/citibusinessnews.com/Ghana