**Protesting Tanker Owners ‘Had 18 Years to Comply’ with ADR Regulations**
Fuel tanker owners in Cyprus have been given a significant amount of time—18 years—to comply with the mandatory ADR (Accord européen relatif au transport international des marchandises Dangereuses par Route) requirements for transporting flammable liquids. This includes a year since the transport ministry established a deadline for compliance, according to a representative from the Road Transport Department (TOM), speaking to the Cyprus Mail on Tuesday.
The TOM representative emphasized that tanker owners currently protesting against the new regulations have little ground to stand on, given the extensive time frame they have had to meet the necessary requirements. The chairman of the petrol station owners’ association, Savvas Prokopiou, expressed support for the new regulations during a protest on Monday but acknowledged that implementing the required procedures would take time. However, the TOM representative countered that the tanker owners had ample opportunity to prepare and had failed to act.
“Both the transport ministry and TOM have been saying that it is risky to let a tanker with no ADR on the roads as an accident could happen and people could die. It is a matter of safety,” the representative stated. The urgency of compliance is underscored by the potential risks associated with transporting hazardous materials without the appropriate safety measures in place.
The ADR regulations encompass several critical areas, including driver training, safety equipment for vehicles, and hazard marking for the transportation of dangerous goods. Key operational rules focus on driver certification, mandatory safety equipment kits, and vehicle placarding. Placarding involves displaying standardized warning signs and symbols on transport units carrying hazardous materials.
The TOM representative noted that the ADR compliance system has been in place for many years, stating, “We should have become harmonised in 2008.” He criticized previous governments for not addressing the issue adequately and highlighted that last year, the transport minister provided a one-year notice for tanker owners to comply. Options for compliance included either purchasing new tankers that meet the ADR standards or altering the registration of existing tankers to prevent them from being classified as fuel carriers. However, he noted that no significant actions were taken by the tanker owners during this time.
Currently, there are approximately 420 fuel tankers operating on the roads, with only 80 of them meeting the ADR requirements. The remaining 80 percent primarily consist of smaller tankers delivering heating fuel to homes and businesses. The TOM representative warned that if a significant number of tankers are taken off the roads due to non-compliance, consumers will need to plan ahead for their heating fuel needs, particularly as winter approaches.
In light of the impending enforcement of the new regulations, the representative indicated that police would be stopping tankers that do not meet ADR standards. This enforcement action could lead to a significant disruption in fuel delivery services, further complicating the situation for consumers and businesses reliant on timely fuel supplies.
The ongoing protests by petrol station owners, which took place outside the presidential palace on Tuesday, reflect their concerns regarding the transport minister's decree. They are calling for intervention from President Nikos Christodoulides, expressing fears that up to 90 percent of fuel tankers could be immobilized under the new ADR requirements. The protests highlight the tension between regulatory compliance for safety and the operational realities faced by fuel suppliers and consumers in Cyprus.
As the situation develops, the balance between ensuring public safety through regulatory compliance and addressing the logistical challenges faced by fuel suppliers remains a critical issue for stakeholders in the Cypriot fuel industry.