Tema, March 1, GNA - To ensure absolute safety of lives and properties, Management of Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), the country's only oil refinery has constructed a new operational tanker park at the cost of nine billion cedis to relocate the tanker drivers.

The park, located about 200 metres away from the refinery is equipped with the necessary facilities such as 60 offices for the Oil Marketing Companies (OMC), sanitary facilities, training centres for the drivers, bathrooms, fire fighting equipment, generator, 12 fire fighting hydrants, water reservoir, offices for the drivers, canteens and sleeping rooms, among others.

The tankers, presently numbering about 1,500 were being parked at the frontage of the refinery and along the street.

Taking newsmen round to inspect the park, Mr Robert Mosore, Manager in-charge of Special Duties at the TOR said the area has a capacity for 400 tankers who would be waiting for their turn to load their fuel allocation and then leave the premises immediately for their respective areas.

The rest of the tankers would be at their respective areas across the countryside and would be informed through the OMC when to load before coming to wait at the park.

This indicates that this time round, no tanker would have to waste time loading their consignment. Mr Mosore explained that the refinery's business was threatened by fire outbreaks with the tankers parking area from both loaded and unloaded trucks.

These were mainly caused by the siphoning of products leading to generation of static ignition, insecurity of vehicles due to the operations of intruders, popularly known as the "belle belle boys", while operations of the neighbouring companies also posed threat hence the construction of the park.

He said keeping the tankers at the safe and confined place would eliminate siphoning of fuel from loaded trucks, ease congestion on the TOR-VALCO road and bring together all the OMC at one place. Mr Mosore however, indicated that ejection of traditional food sellers along the street posed a threat as they are adamant to leave but said they would liaise with the Tema Municipal Assembly to resolve the situation.

Talking about emission of smoke from nearby Ferro Fabrik Company, he said the Company is addressing the situation with the help of the Environmental Protection Agency.