ZABS starts annual tankers’ checks

By BUUMBA CHIMBULU

OVER 600 road tankers across the country have being targeted for annual inspection in an effort to promote the quality of petroleum products entering the country by the Zambia Bureau of Standards (ZABS).

ZABS head of marketing and public relations, Hazel Zulu, explained that the tankers would also be inspected to ensure that all petroleum products being conveyed in Zambia were transported in a manner that was in conformity to the relevant local standards.

"ZABS inspects the tankers to confirm that they are safe in terms of electrical and mechanical systems among other parameters and also to ensure that all possibilities of sources of ignition coming into contact with flammable liquids are eliminated," she said.

Ms. Zulu said the road tank vehicle inspections would commence on Monday 9th to 27th October 2017 in Lusaka and from 9th October to 11th November on the Copperbelt.

She explained that the tankers would be inspected in line with the Zambian Standard, ZS 371 which prescribed specifications for the handling, storage and distribution of liquefied petroleum gas.

"This will also help avert unnecessary road carnage.

ZS 371 and ZS 429 are mandatory standards and non-compliance to mandatory standards is an offence under the country’s laws.

"We would therefore, like to appeal to all locally registered petroleum products transporters to cooperate with ZABS to ensure that their tankers are inspected and certified fit for use," Ms. Zulu said.