Times Of Swaziland: TWO FILLING STATIONS NOT IN COMPLIANCE

TWO FILLING STATIONS NOT IN COMPLIANCE
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Mhlengi Magongo on 16/08/2022 08:50:00


MBABANE - Two filling stations had a case to answer with the regulator after two
of their fuel pumps were found not to be in compliance with metrology standards.
This was revealed by the Weighs and Measurements Unit in the Ministry of
commerce, Industry and Trade. The name of the filling stations in question have
been withheld due to key principles that guide the Weights and Measures Section
as per the Metrology Act No.12 of 1991. They said two fuel pumps were not
complying with metrology requirement and that fuel pumps compliance was at 93.75
per cent and the remaining 6.25 per cent was recalibrated within six days.
Process
The ministry said the process of recalibration could take couple of hours or
days depending on the cause of the malfunction. It said this calibration process
was done by independent repairs which were contracted to the different fuel
companies for the installation, calibration and recalibration of fuel pumps.
“As per metrology Act a maximum of 21 days can be given for the recalibration
of the said measuring instruments,” they said. The unit also mentioned that
once the inspector had ordered the withdrawal of such pumps from trade use;
continual usage became a criminal offence.
It said the most common incompliance was the incorrect delivery of fuel which
was either more or less than allowed tolerance. This can lead to either the
business owner being on the losing side or the costumer/ consumer short charged,
thus the section of Weights and Measures protect both the consumer and the
trader. They added that filling stations needed to adhere to metrology
requirement as stated in the Metrology Act No.12 of 1991 and its regulations
which included the recalibration of the fuel pumps at least once every 12
months.