Hussain inspects vapour recovery systems at Delhi petrol pumps

Delhi Environment minister Imran Hussain on Saturday reviewed the action taken so far by oil companies for installation of vapour recovery systems at petrol pumps in Delhi.

The Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) had earlier directed oil companies to ensure installation of vapour recovery system at all the petrol pumps in the National Capital.

"Vapour recovery systems prevent evaporation of petrol and diesel, while tankers are filled at fuel stations," said Hussain.

Petrol contains volatile organic compounds (VOC), including benzene, that evaporate inside the fuel tank of a vehicle and fill the space above the liquid fuel.

When a vehicle is refuelled, these vapours are forced out from the fuel tank by incoming fuel and, unless controlled, these vapours escape into the atmosphere through the filler neck of the fuel tank.

VOCs from petrol vapour are known to increase air pollution.

During his meeting, officials of Hindustan Petroleum informed Hussain that they have installed vapour recovery systems at 95 petrol pumps out of 97.

Bharat Petroleum officials said they completed installation at 31 petrol pumps out of 42, while officials of Indian Oil Corporation said the needful was done at 60 locations out of a total of 190 petrol pumps.

The Minister expressed his desire that all efforts should be made to complete installation of vapour recovery systems at petrol pumps in the city by September 30.

Hussain also directed the Environment Department and DPCC to carry out random surprise inspections at various petrol pumps to check the functioning as well as efficacy of vapour recovery systems, with respect to the prescribed norms.

The review meeting was attended by senior officers of the Environment Department, DPCC and oil companies operating in Delhi, viz. Indian Oil Corporation Ltd, Bharat Petroleum and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd.