Questions raised on new safety norms in state- run refineries
Mumbai   13-Jul-2011

Following the massive fire at the IndianOil depot in Jaipur that killed at least 13 people, a new set of recommendations on fire- fighting facilities have come into question.

Following the incident, major and expensive recommendations on additional fire fighting facilities have been incorporated in Oil Industries Safety Directorate [OISD] Codes 116 & 117. State- run oil companies have reportedly raised doubts over these proposals and have argued that they have been floated without any deliberations.

One of the recommendations says that the Rim Seal Fire detection system based on hollow metallic tube shall be installed in floating roof tanks of all Class “A" products in the Oil terminal. OISD 116 [July 1998] stated that the detector network should normally be of “thermoplastic tubing" type. This was based on worldwide practice that still prevails.

But with the new revision [latest October 2010], the detection system has been changed to “hollow metallic tube" with no alternatives.

PSU oil companies complain that the changes have been effected to promote one particular product without due findings on its efficiency and suitability.

In general, it has been pointed out that radical changes were made with no background as the product they referred to was never used in oil tank application anywhere in the world except in India and that too it was not proved under actual fire situations.

Various Private Oil Refining Companies are understood to have made a representation to the Ministry of Oil and Natural Gas, but have not received a response so far.

Now, under pressure from OISD, PSU oil companies are in a hurry to buy the newly specified equipment.

For the same, global tenders have been floated bearing ref. nos. RHQMM 11203 to 11210 by IOCL calling for installation of this system in 250 tanks.

Making matters worse, the specification of these tenders calls for a unique product available from only one source globally that is handled by a company in India.

Industry is crying foul saying this is totally monopolistic.

It is being pointed out that no other product is acceptable as per specifications, although other systems like thermoplastic tube, analog and digital LHS cable, Fusible Bulb Detectors, Fibre Optic Cable etc. are available and are equally effective if not better.

Some estimates peg the cost of the system to be in excess of Rs. 500 crores which they argue is a complete drain on the company as well as the country. If all the tanks in the country are taken up as per latest OISD recommendations, the national wastage will be in excess of Rs. 5,000 crores. Industry has called for a thorough re- think/ probe on the proposals for putting in place adequate detection systems.