Editorial

The fire outbreak that ravaged the Elton Oil Brikama filling station and by extension shops around the station has raised concerns about the safety precautions that should be observed by such facilities. The recent proliferation of petrol stations particularly in the Greater Banjul Area and West Coast Region is of course a welcome development. Such a development would ensure the steady flow of our economy which largely relies on transport as cars and vehicles can easily stop off for refilling and continue business as usual.

However, there must be due regard for the health safety and environmental standards in the construction and operation of a petrol station.Outside this, such facilities would only become sources of constant havoc and pain. The Brikama Elton fire incident should therefore serve as a wakeup call for all the other petrol stations. Safety and standards must be given maximum consideration at such facilities.

It is in this light that we welcome the media dispatch from the Ministry of Petroleum that from now on all downstream petroleum businesses including the construction and operation of petrol stations, refineries, liquefy petroleum gas facilities, petroleum storage depots and any other petrochemical industry would be licensed. In so doing, the Ministry would ensure that safety and standards are in place and that the petrochemical industry also delivers quality services to the people.

While we applaud the Ministry for the initiative, we reiterate once again that it is also fundamental that those in the petrochemical business, particularly the petrol stations adhere strictly to the safety precautions of their business. Petrol stations must be no smoking zones, motor engines and mobile phones must be switched off at all times, fire extinguishers must be strategically positioned in case of unexpected fire outbreaks. There also has to be in place an effective emergency alert unit.

Just like any other business, the petrochemical business has to be safe and sound for not only its workers but also the consumers. It is through such that we can get the best out of the industry.