BERA urges the petroleum industry to adhere to transportation standards

The Botswana Energy Regulatory Authority this stated it is aware of petroleum industry players that use bladders for fuel transportation and storage. “Bladders are large chemical container bags that are made from Polyamide High Tenacity, in lay terms we can say it is a synthetic material of high thermal and abrasion resistance,” said the agency. According to BERA, safety of using bladers is dependent on how they are handled because by nature they not rigid structures.

‘Regulators in countries where they are commonly used have set out standards and guidelines on how they should be handled’

In Botswana, transportation of fuel is covered under the Road Traffic Act (Transportation of Hazardous Goods Regulations). These regulations require that packaging, storage and transportation be done in accordance with methods approved by the Botswana Bureau of Standards (BOBS). BOBS has developed several standards amongst others to ensure that handling and transportation of hazardous goods (fuel included) is done in a manner that is safe and protects the environment.

Some of the standards include, BO541 (for the type of containers that are allowed for the transportation of fuel), BOS543 (for requirements of maintenance of vehicles and portable tanks), BO517 (for requirements for road vehicles), BOS518-1 (for emergency information systems) among others.

“It is therefore the Authority’s expectation that as a minimum fuel handling, storage and transportation should follow these and other relevant standards and regulations in Botswana.

In this regard, the Authority would like to notify those wishing to transport, store or package fuel in any manner that is not consistent with the norm to first ensure that their method is consistent with the applicable standards prior to implementation. Where an approval of exemption is issued in writing the Authority requests that it should be presented to it, prior to implementation,” said BERA.