Oil tankers' locking system now set to go electronic
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 07 2020: Taking a step further towards ensuring both quality and quantity to all fuel consumers, the Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) has initiated due process to replace the steel locking system of oil tankers with an e-locking system.

The e-locking system has been already introduced in some metropolitan cities of the country including Delhi.

The same locking system was launched at IOCL's Betkuchi terminal located at Guwahati some days back for the first time in the North East region.

It is reported that the e-locking system would be introduced in Manipur too shortly.

Oil tankers engaged in transporting fuel from different loading points located in Assam including Betkuchi to the Malom oil depot and from Malom oil depot to different ROs would be fitted with e-locking system in place of the current steel locking system, sources informed.

Talking about the technical aspects of the e-locking system, the sources said that oil tankers would be allowed to lock and unlock their tanks only at dedicated points once the e-locking system is installed.

The drivers, their assistants and any other men would not be able to unlock or lock the oil tanks at other places.

The dedicated points means the loading and unloading points and ROs.

Once the tank of an oil tanker has been locked, it can be unlocked only with the help of an OTP which would be sent to the registered mobile number of an authorised person, said the sources.

The OTP which would be sent to the registered mobile number is a very dynamic one.

If someone gets to know the OTP before it is used, the same may be changed immediately.

In another word, the e-locking system is foolproof.

The current steel locking system can be easily unlocked and locked by using a key and duplicates of such keys can be easily made in Manipur too.

As the oil tanks can be unlocked and locked using duplicate keys, there have been several reports of siphoning off fuel and adulteration of fuel before the fuel reach their destinations.

The IOCL came up with the novel e-locking system with the primary objective of checking such unethical and unlawful practices, said the sources.

Notably, Betkuchi is the main loading point for oil tankers coming from Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland.

Many oil tankers heading to these States halt at Khatkhati terminal.

As reported several times, fuel were siphoned off at this terminal which sometimes led to devastating infernos.

Sometimes, the fuel were adulterated so badly that the Manipur Legislative Assembly Speaker was even compelled to write to the Union Petroleum Minister.

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