Inspections of gas stations across the country by Ministry of Science and Technology officials have found hundreds of cases of meter tampering and fuel doctoring. ThanhNien
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Of 1,312 gas station inspections conducted since June, 255 outlets – or 19 percent – were caught using dodgy gas pump meters or selling substandard fuel.
Ministry of Science and Technology Chief Inspector Tran Minh Dung said fewer violations were found in the most recent inspection than in previous sweeps. However, Dung said gas station operators were becoming more devious in their attempts to rip off their customers.
“As well as cases of gas pumps not having valid authorization stamps and certificates, gas stations were also found in breach of measurement and quality regulations,” he said.
“Electronic metering systems of many gas pumps [which gauge the volume of fuel being pumped and display prices] had been tampered with,” he said. “Customers might get up to 9.3 percent less fuel than what was displayed on doctored gas pumps in the provinces of Dak Lak, Nghe An, Quang Nam, Phu Tho and Nam Dinh.”
The Ministry of Science and Technology last month issued an urgent dispatch to provincial authorities to crack down on gas stations in September.
Inspectors were told to focus on ensuring the correct amount of fuel was delivered by gas pumps.
The Ministry of Industry and Trade will later this week announce what action it will take against gas stations caught breaking business registration and price regulations.
Deputy Chairman of the Vietnam Standards and Consumers Association (Vinastas), Ho Tat Thang, said: “Vinastas is ready to file lawsuits on behalf of customers against offending gas stations.”
Thang said the penalties for breaking fuel price and measurement rules were not tough enough.
“There should be stricter penalties against such violations, including revoking business registration certificates and even criminal charges,” he said. “Those gas stations should be asked to compensate customers’ losses.”
Rampant violations
According to inspection results from the Ministry of Science and Technology, there were 71 dodgy gas stations in Gia Lai Province, who were fined a total of VND225 million (US$13,607). Another 36 offending gas stations were found in An Giang Province, 24 in Hung Yen Province and 20 in Dak Lak Province.
Inspectors from the Department of Science and Technology of Dong Nai Province on Tuesday announced eight gas stations had been caught breaching measurement and quality regulations.
In Long An Province, local inspectors also found four cases of gas stations breaching regulations.
In Ho Chi Minh City, of 201 gas pumps at 31 gas stations assessed by HCMC government inspectors since June, 45 did not meet standards, the municipal Department of Science and Technology said last week. Four out of 18 samples of gas also failed to meet the advertised octane content, inspectors said.
The offending gas stations were scattered through HCMC’s outlying districts, such as Binh Chanh, Binh Tan, Hoc Mon and Cu Chi.
In the north-central province of Nghe An, inspectors conducted 118 inspections and found 28 gas stations flouting measurement requirements, according to a report released Friday by the province’s Department of Science and Technology.
These gas stations had also tampered with their gas pumps, using electronic devices to pilfer up to 8 percent of petrol meant for customers, according to inspectors.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Of 1,312 gas station inspections conducted since June, 255 outlets – or 19 percent – were caught using dodgy gas pump meters or selling substandard fuel.
Ministry of Science and Technology Chief Inspector Tran Minh Dung said fewer violations were found in the most recent inspection than in previous sweeps. However, Dung said gas station operators were becoming more devious in their attempts to rip off their customers.
“As well as cases of gas pumps not having valid authorization stamps and certificates, gas stations were also found in breach of measurement and quality regulations,” he said.
“Electronic metering systems of many gas pumps [which gauge the volume of fuel being pumped and display prices] had been tampered with,” he said. “Customers might get up to 9.3 percent less fuel than what was displayed on doctored gas pumps in the provinces of Dak Lak, Nghe An, Quang Nam, Phu Tho and Nam Dinh.”
The Ministry of Science and Technology last month issued an urgent dispatch to provincial authorities to crack down on gas stations in September.
Inspectors were told to focus on ensuring the correct amount of fuel was delivered by gas pumps.
The Ministry of Industry and Trade will later this week announce what action it will take against gas stations caught breaking business registration and price regulations.
Deputy Chairman of the Vietnam Standards and Consumers Association (Vinastas), Ho Tat Thang, said: “Vinastas is ready to file lawsuits on behalf of customers against offending gas stations.”
Thang said the penalties for breaking fuel price and measurement rules were not tough enough.
“There should be stricter penalties against such violations, including revoking business registration certificates and even criminal charges,” he said. “Those gas stations should be asked to compensate customers’ losses.”
Rampant violations
According to inspection results from the Ministry of Science and Technology, there were 71 dodgy gas stations in Gia Lai Province, who were fined a total of VND225 million (US$13,607). Another 36 offending gas stations were found in An Giang Province, 24 in Hung Yen Province and 20 in Dak Lak Province.
Inspectors from the Department of Science and Technology of Dong Nai Province on Tuesday announced eight gas stations had been caught breaching measurement and quality regulations.
In Long An Province, local inspectors also found four cases of gas stations breaching regulations.
In Ho Chi Minh City, of 201 gas pumps at 31 gas stations assessed by HCMC government inspectors since June, 45 did not meet standards, the municipal Department of Science and Technology said last week. Four out of 18 samples of gas also failed to meet the advertised octane content, inspectors said.
The offending gas stations were scattered through HCMC’s outlying districts, such as Binh Chanh, Binh Tan, Hoc Mon and Cu Chi.
In the north-central province of Nghe An, inspectors conducted 118 inspections and found 28 gas stations flouting measurement requirements, according to a report released Friday by the province’s Department of Science and Technology.
These gas stations had also tampered with their gas pumps, using electronic devices to pilfer up to 8 percent of petrol meant for customers, according to inspectors.
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