Motorists have been taken for a ride by gas stations in Ho Chi Minh City and Nghe An Province, which have been caught breaching measurement and quality regulations.
Of 201 gas pumps at 31 gas stations assessed by HCMC government inspectors since June, 45 gas pumps did not meet standards, according to a report released recently by HCMC’s Department of Science and Technology.
Inspection teams found gas pumps did not have valid authorization stamps and certificates.
The gas station inspections also found the electronic metering systems of many gas pumps, used to gauge the volume of fuel pumped and the price, had been tampered with, the report said.
The doctored gas pump meters meant customers were getting up to 10.5 percent less fuel than what was displayed.
Four out of 18 samples of gas also failed to meet the advertised octane content, inspectors said.
The most popular grade of petrol in Vietnam is the 92 octane petrol.
The Department of Science and Technology said it had fined all gas stations found to be in breach of regulations.
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.
Nghe An’s Yen Thanh District alone had 13 gas stations that did not meet standards, inspectors said.
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.
But Nghe An inspectors said the dishonest gas stations could only be fined up to VND23.5 million (US$1,425).
Only one of them faced having its license suspended, the inspectors said.
The provincial inspectors would continue monitoring gas stations and would name and shame those found in breach of regulations, said Pham Xuan Can, deputy director of Nghe An’s Department of Science and Technology.
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SUBSTANDARD CRASH HELMETS
■ Only two out of 24 crash helmets checked by Ho Chi Minh City’s Department of Science and Technology met safety standards.
■ At the conclusion of a round of inspections, the department urged citizens to only buy crash helmets carrying the “CS” or “CR” safety certification labels.
Customers should also note the names of helmet manufacturers, the department added.
■ A ban on substandard so-called stylish helmets is set to take effect in November. |
Reported by Mai Vong-Khanh Hoan |
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