Tema, July 15, GNA - A fuel tanker with registration number GR 2812 A on Tuesday overturned at a tanker yard in the Tema heavy industrial area leading to the spillage of 17,000 litres of petrol. The spillage, which covered about 20 metres of the yard, was foamed by personnel of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) to serve as a blanket to avoid an outbreak of fire in case of sparks. Mr Prince Billy Anaglatey, Tema Public Relations Officer of the GNFS, told newsmen at the scene that the driver of the vehicle was suspected to have gone to the yard to siphon the fuel after loading from the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR).

He said some few weeks back, his outfit embarked on an exercise at the same yard during which several gallons of siphoned fuel was seized. Mr Anaglatey said the turning over of the tanker could be attributed to lack of maintenance works and cautioned tanker drivers to desist from siphoning fuel as that could lead to fire outbreaks. The driver of the tanker, Mr Kwabena Asare, denied having gone to the yard to siphon fuel.

He said he went there to collect his hose that he had left at the premises after parking in the yard for three weeks while awaiting his vehicles' turn to be loaded with the fuel.