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Uganda: The Danger of Mushrooming Fuel Stations
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The Monitor (Kampala)
OPINION
26 March 2008
Posted to the web 25 March 2008
Mr Andrew Nkurunziza
Back in July of last year, I wrote an article highlighting the dangers that the closeness and the alarming number of petrol stations posed. By now one would hope that Kampala City Council or the authorities would have done something about this but instead the number has steadily increased putting the city at even greater risk of mass inferno.
Although the transport sector accounts for approximately 76% of all petroleum products consumption in Kampala and revenue from fuel plays an important role in financing the country's national budget, contributing 25% of government revenue, this is no reason to have over 500 filling stations in the country with Kampala alone accounting for about 26% of them. It's no reason to keep approving the building plans for more stations.
The danger
Diesel exhaust is a mixture containing over 450 different components, including vapors and fine particles coated with organic substances. Exposure to this mixture may result in cancer, respiratory complications and other related health problems.
There is that obvious danger of a serious fire hazard in case one of them were to catch fire. It would definitely spread to the rest almost simultaneously due to the closeness in proximity of these stations.
Most of these fuel stations are too close to the roads even some being built within the road reserves. This too poses serious danger since accidents which are usually unforeseen can be fatal in case cars involved ram into the fuel pumps.
Theft and burglary cases are on the rise at the petrol stations and their neighborhoods. This is so because of their 24-hour schedule where pump attendants usually have considerable amounts of cash at hand. This aspect is partly to blame for the insecurity around these areas. On several occasions, there have been incidents where armed robberies have taken place.
To the motorist the rampant presence of these fuel stations, though convenient, is to blame for the constant rip off of customers. Many a time drivers have complained of fuel stations selling them "air" (false fuel). Some fuel stations have resorted to selling "air" meaning that one is attracted by the low prices of their fuel but in the end receive less than they pay for.
Most new stations sell unleaded fuel, which when burnt produces gases that cause global warming which in turn leads to extreme weather patterns and eventually drought and disrupts human activity.
Way forward
This trend of steady growth in energy consumption is a clear sign of growth of the transport sector meaning that the economy is on an upward trend but it's not too late to make a difference.
For example the approval of building plans for more petrol stations in specific areas like the city centre, city suburbs such as Natete, Nalukolongo Road, Kamwokya, Zzana, Old Kampala, Bakuli, etc should be halted with immediate effect.
This is because of the great number of these stations in the mentioned areas. should be halted with immediate effect.
The Uganda National Bureau of Standards should be more vigilant and carry out regular thorough checks on pumps and other apparatus used at fuel stations to curb cases of unscrupulous stations manipulating their fuel pump systems to cheat customers.
Operating time should be stipulated for the fuel stations beyond which either tight security is provided or a close down regulation is imposed. This will serve to protect the earnings of these stations and reduce on the number of deaths due to armed robberies at these fuel hubs.
Violations of environmental and planning laws, where cited, should be dealt with high handedly. For example building within the road reserve, being reckless when it comes to fuel emissions from the storage tanks or reckless handling and disposal of used products like oil at these stations should all be dealt with through the National Environment Management Authority's help.
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There is still a long way to go but with the participation of all those concerned and in authority it can be quite easy to achieve.
The few who benefit from this flourishing business should not do it at the expense of the majority in the populace. It's time to act.
The writer is an environmentalist and urban planner
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