Six Out Of Ten Producers of CNG Equipment Operate With Their Overdue License Plates
This was revealed by ENARGAS' internal audit unit, which detected the same irregularity in 69% of device manufacturers and importers and 58% of periodic cylinder inspection centers. The data are contained in an AGN report which added that the agency does not require gas distributors to inspect gas stations.
The National Regulatory Entity of Gas (ENARGAS, for its acronym in Spanish) has an internal mechanism to control all instances of the compressed natural gas market, the Centralized Computer System (SICGNC, for its acronym in Spanish). A report from the National Audit Office (AGN, for its acronym in Spanish) states that this system "does not provide truthful, reliable and timely information," nor does it meet the objectives of its creation, regarding the control of the security of the elements in circulation. Thus, the internal audit unit of ENARGAS itself ensures that the system "does not alert the agency to the operators of the industry who work with their expired registrations, and points out that this irregularity is registered in 66% of the Producers of complete CNG equipment, 69% of the manufacturers and importers of parts and 58% of the centers of periodic review of cylinders."
Those who participate in the CNG market are obliged to register in an Enrollment Register that controls the activity. Of the sample taken by the AGN for its analysis, 35.8% of the operators that entered the CNG system or renewed their registration between 2004 and 2005 did not meet all the required requirements. In addition, 58.3% of the registrations surveyed do not include the date on which the ENARGAS issued or renewed the licenses and, as the permits apply for periods of two years from the effective notification of that date, the lack of registrations "removes certainty over the term of validity of authorizations," explains the Audit.
Between 1995 and 2005, the use of CNG rose from 4% to 9.1% of domestic demand for natural gas. Because of this level of consumption, distribution companies must make quarterly inspections of cargo stations located in their jurisdiction. But ENARGAS, as a competent authority, "did not demand compliance with this obligation," the report says, adding that: of the 331 CNG stations under the orbit of Metrogas SA, 75 "did not have the level of control required" for the normative.
One of the objectives of the SICGNC is to monitor the safety of the CNG circuit, that is to say, that the vehicles circulate with suitable gas equipment and, besides, that these products are not stolen. On this issue, the Audit noted that "the registration of elements reported as stolen does not provide complete and reliable information", and that users and official bodies do not have data on this. Moreover, according to the AGN, the ENARGAS does not cross information with the Federal Police, the provincial security forces, the Automobile Property Registries or with insurance entities.
"On the other hand, the inspection body detected that of the 1,500 certification wafers canceled and unsubscribed after a quality certification," 1,401 appear in the system (of the ENARGAS) and are reported as 'used'," which represents the 93% of cases.
Likewise, the Agency "admits operations of CNG equipment in vehicles that do not comply with the requirements to move under the National Traffic Law," says the report of the AGN, and aims to authorize market agents to provide services in cars with non-re-registered domains, "represents an additional risk to public security."