Government official says new petro import testing labs on the way

 June 5, 2017

A senior official from Ministry of Electricity and Energy explained quality assurance protocols for imported fuel oil in response to a previous inquiry from a Mon State legislator at the 2nd Amyotha Hluttaw yesterday.

Deputy Minister Dr. Tun Naing said the Myanmar government is establishing a fuel laboratory that will meet international standards through a public-private partnership. The lab will test imported petroleum products that arrive at the sea port of Thilawa.

Dr. Tun Naing said that petroleum products are currently sent across Bago River to an oil refinery laboratory in Thanlyin for testing and, if they meet quality standards, are permitted to be sold for distribution. Other quality control measures for imported fuels and lubricants include mobile labs capable of conducting spot checks and responding to anonymous consumer complaints.

Official sanctions were imposed against 17 petro stations in FY 2012-2013, 32 in 2013-2014, 10 in 2014-2015 and seven in 2015-2016. Sixty-six received official warning letters, Dr. Tun Naing said, and several were prohibited from selling petroleum products.

Quality safeguards will soon include inspections of oil tankers along roads and waterways, Dr. Tun Naing said.

In another exchange at the Amyontha Hluttaw yesterday, Rakhine representative U Tet Tun Aung asked if the government planned to provide any new model communities for ethnic people in Rakhine.

Deputy Minister for Border Affairs Maj. Gen. Than Htut responded with a historical overview of the development of model villages in Maungtaw and Buthidaung townships since 1990. The general said that there were a total of 19 different resettlement projects to establish 36 Na Ta La model villages.

“742 households and 3433 family members who moved from Bangladesh are being accommodated in Na Ta La model villages and subsidized with household commodities and food for a one-year period,” the general said.

The bill committee of the Amyotha Hluttaw also read out a draft of a new water resources and river conservation bill. 

Ref; The Global new Light of Myanmar