The Electrical & Mechanical Services Department has unveiled measures to enhance the monitoring of the liquefied-petroleum gas supply after receiving the findings on the investigation into alleged engine problems in LPG vehicles.

Director of Electrical & Mechanical Services Stephen Chan today said the measures focus on four areas:

* asking LPG suppliers to form or review internal procedural guidelines, in view of the industry practices and the company's own position;

* requiring LPG suppliers to submit their internal procedural guidelines to the department;

* enhancing the monitoring of the LPG suppliers by ensuring the guidelines are strictly adhered to; and,

* conducting random tests on LPG samples on a regular basis to ensure quality.

"These four areas of work could help enhance our monitoring on each and every segment of the LPG supply chain. We will in future conduct comprehensive reviews of the monitoring of supply and the quality of auto-LPG, with a view to strengthening the monitoring measures," Mr Chan said.

The department has, since January 7, collected samples from LPG terminals and filling stations for laboratory tests. All results indicated LPG quality was sound.

"We will strictly enforce monitoring measures in the four areas on the LPG supply chain, including regular inspections, to secure the quality of LPG," Mr Chan added.

Key findings

The task force's investigations found Sinopec had not followed its terminal operational procedures on eight occasions when conducting water-draining operations. Although the task force could not ascertain the eight operations were the direct cause of the vehicle problems, it said those operations might have affected LPG quality.

Having conducted site inspections and checked records, the task force did not find any other irregularity in the operation and maintenance of Sinopec's LPG terminal, LPG road tankers and filling stations.

The task force recommended measures to enhance the monitoring of LPG quality, improve the operation of LPG facilities as well as the repair and maintenance of LPG vehicles. Click here for details.