Kerosene explosions kill three in Ebonyi, fuel station sealed

Ebonyi State government has closed down a filling station, Minsters Energy, believed to have sold adulterated kerosene that killed one Miss Chidera Nwoba at Mbukobe in Abakaliki.
The 11-year-old girl was killed by an explosion from a kerosene product allegedly purchased from the filling station located in Abakaliki urban.
Incidents of kerosene explosion were also reported to have burnt beyond recognition two other victims, Chibueze Ugorji, 8, and Uche Kalueze, 6, from Akaeze in Ivo Local Government Area of the state.
Addressing newsmen in Abakaliki on Wednesday, Special Adviser to Governor Martin Elechi on Petroleum Product Pricing and Distribution, Chidi Ejem, explained that the filling station was closed down because its product did not meet the required standards for public usage.
He said the filling station would remain closed until its management is seen to have conducted itself within the confines of the regulations about kerosene transactions and incidents of kerosene explosion in the country.
He warned that if the families of the victims were not properly compensated by the owners of the filling station, as well meet other conditionalties on petroleum product distribution, the station would remain closed for a long time.
“When the explosion happened, we took our time to investigate the source. All the affected families we talked with, pointed towards the filling station under investigation.
“They said they bought the product from there. When we got to the filling station, there was no product. But, I managed to get a little quantity from their desktop.
“When the sample was tested at the NNPC depot laboratory, the manager confirmed to me that the product that caused the explosion was contaminated; or rather, I will say that the product did not meet the required specification.
“It was flashing at room temperature, which does not meet NNPC specification and can cause such explosion if not properly used.
“That’s why the station is still under lock and key. I have written my report to DPR and PPMC and they have their own action to take.
”Petroleum issue is not just for the state to take action alone; we are concerned about the safety of the lives of our citizens
“The filling station under investigation never passed through NNPC depot specification laboratory because they have their own depot.
“Assuming they passed through NNPC depot, they would have been able to find out where the problem is from before distribution to the general public”.
http://dailyindependentnig.com/2013/08/kerosene-explosions-kill-three-in-ebonyi-fuel-station-sealed/