Many of 250,000 CNG-run vehicles could go off like bombs, warn experts

CNG may be an eco-friendly substitute for petroleum fuel, but experts say most vehicles run on natural gas in Bangladesh pose a potential threat.

Lack of proper maintenance and mandatory cylinder checks are turning most of the 250,000 CNG-run vehicles trundling along the country’s roads into the equivalent of powerful bombs, experts have warned.

Cases of blasts in CNG vehicles have risen steeply. Police have often cited lack of maintenance for over five years as the cause of such accidents.

Explosives official under the Ministry of Petroleum Shamsul Alam told bdnews24.com that while over 300,000 cars were converted to CNG in 2000, only 50,000 have reported for maintenance, while the rest 250,000 posed a serious threat.

Alam said that, in the absence of proper and regular maintenance, these vehicles become potential bombs.

State authorised gas cylinder maintenance agency, RPGCL personnel Saifullah Khan Kabir told bdnews24.com that international norms make a CNG cylinder check mandatory every five years.

But most of the CNG cylinders fitted in cars have not reported for maintenance for a much longer period, he said.

What’s the test?

Saifullah Kabir says that ordinarily a gas filled cylinder can withstand a pressure of about 3,000 PSI.

At the test facility, the cylinders are subjected to a pressure of 4,500 PSI to check whether they retain their strength.

Only those that withstand the additional pressure are certified safe.

Legal loophole

The Bangladesh Road Transport Ordinance 1983 makes Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) the safety watchdog for petrol, octane and diesel-driven vehicles, besides giving it powers to supervise other key operational areas of such vehicles.

But as BRTA technical wing Director Nurul Islam points out, the ordinance does not mention CNG, thus limiting the BRTA’s jurisdiction in examining the fitness of CNG vehicles.

Cylinder tampering

RPGCL’s personnel Saifullah Khan Kabir said proof of CNG cylinder tampering has been found in several cases.

He said cylinders manufactured abroad had no joins on them, but those made in Bangladesh did, making the devices vulnerable.

However, Shamsul Alam, an Explosives Office official doubts the claims in the absence of concrete evidence to prove wrongdoing.

He believes cylinders that have run their course are already at risk and it is difficult to ascertain if those used in some of the cars that went off recently were bought from bona fide manufacturers or were simply converted oxygen cylinders.