BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 11. Azerbaijani Minister for Emergency Situations, Colonel-General Kamaladdin Heydarov held a meeting on the nightclub explosion in Baku on instructions of the First Vice-President of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva, Trend reports.
The meeting was attended by the heads of the relevant structures of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, head of the Baku City Executive Power Eldar Azizov, general director of the Azerigas production association Ruslan Aliyev, deputy minister of energy Kamal Abbasov, deputy chairmen of Azerishig and Azersu OJSCs Gadir Ismayilov and Kocharli Hasanov, respectively.
Speaking at the event, Heydarov informed in detail about the current situation regarding public utilities, including gas facilities.
Speaking about the explosion which occurred on April 3 in Baku, the minister noted that gross violations of fire safety rules, especially in gas facilities in public catering facilities, including those located in the basements and on the first floors of buildings, can lead to tragic consequences and at any time become a source of potential danger.
He also noted that businessmen abuse the current procedure for conducting inspections in business entities by the supervisory authorities of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, and in some cases they neglect safety rules.
So, according to him, after the inspector of the State Fire Supervision Service of the ministry, who carried out control measures at a facility and identified shortcomings on the spot, including cases of illegal connection to a cylinder with liquid gas or to a gas pipeline, having completed the relevant documentation, leaves the facility, its owner again restores the illegal connection to this cylinder or to the gas pipeline, which ultimately led to the explosion.
Heydarov also stressed that due to the lack of a specific mechanism related, in particular, to the operation of gas cylinders, their removal and disposal during control activities inside the facility, in some cases it becomes impossible for the inspector to take the necessary measures.
Therefore, according to the minister, control over the filling and operation of liquefied gas cylinders, the requirements of the rules for the technical safety of cylinders should be provided by the relevant authorities, and it’s also necessary to seriously counter the illegal use of gas in public catering facilities.
Heydarov pointed out the importance of taking the necessary measures in this area, given that inspection and checking of gas installations of consumers, gas lines, chimneys, as well as ventilation are the direct responsibilities of Azerigas.
The minister stressed that, taking into account all of the above, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev strictly instructed to deal with cases that can lead to emergencies in the catering sector, primarily with fire and explosion hazards, and in this context, the use of liquefied gas cylinders and with illegal use of gas.
