The Petroleum Act regulates the importation, storage, handling, keeping and trade of petroleum, including petroleum spirit, motor fuel and specified white oils. It prohibits any person from importing, keeping or trading in petroleum except in accordance with the Act and rules made under it, and requires premises where petroleum is kept wholly or partly for sale to be licensed. The Act designates a licensing authority, empowered to issue, refuse, revoke, renew, amend or cancel licences and permits. The Act confers broad rule-making powers on the Minister in relation to the mooring of vessels carrying petroleum, loading and unloading operations, supervision and fees, storage conditions, inspection and licensing of premises, quantities of petroleum permitted in storehouses, keeping of petroleum in vehicles, boats and aircraft, conveyance and use of petroleum, and regulation of importation, trade, storage, transportation and possession. It also permits the licensing authority to give directions where specific rules are absent, including in relation to storage or handling. The Act establishes offences and penalties for contraventions of its provisions, rules or licensing directions, including fines and imprisonment on summary conviction or indictment. Where a contravention results in leakage, spillage or escape of petroleum, the court may order remedial operations to remove escaped petroleum and repair resulting damage, and the licensing authority may act directly where delay would be unsafe, impracticable or likely to cause irreparable damage. The Act also provides for bulk stock obligations for importers of white oils, fuel-stock directions for electricity generating stations of 100 megawatts or more, enforcement powers, offences relating to obstruction or false information, and liability of corporate bodies, partnerships and unincorporated associations.
(المملكة المتحدة) جبل طارق · 1931-12-28