The Ulaanbaatar City Inspection Department has suspended operations at seven fuel stations temporarily after issuing official orders from its inspectors. One example is the “Tod Petroleum” station, located in the third khoroo of Khan-Uul District, which holds land use approval but was operating without the proper building permit from the City Development Department of City Standards. Consequently, the station’s operations were halted by the authorities.
S.Enkhbayar, the Head of the Ulaanbaatar City Inspection Department, shared, “There are 270 fuel stations and vehicle refueling stations operating in the capital city. Since October, our department has conducted preliminary inspections on these stations, identifying violations in 47 of them. As a result, we have temporarily shut down seven stations that were operating without the necessary building or operational permits and imposed fines.” He then continued, “In the case of ‘Tod Petroleum’, while the station holds land approval, it lacked the necessary building permit according to urban planning standards. Therefore, we have issued an official order to suspend operations and imposed a penalty. The station is required to submit all relevant documents and obtain the necessary permits within the next three months. If they fail to meet these requirements, we will close the station permanently and revoke its land approval.”
Moreover, the Senior Inspector for Petroleum and Gas Monitoring at the Ulaanbaatar City Inspection Department, T.Munkhbold emphasized, “Fuel stations must adhere to approved architectural plans and construction norms. We will continue to monitor those that are not meeting urban planning, environmental, and safety standards. Inspections will continue for those stations that are operating in areas not in compliance with the regulations.”
The inspection department is also focusing on several critical areas, such as the safety of fuel stations and gas facilities, adherence to urban standards, road signs and markings, transportation, and training for drivers. Furthermore, the department is considering the impact of station locations near residential areas or close to sources of drinking water. These factors will be reviewed in cooperation with relevant organizations to ensure public safety and environmental protection.
This ongoing initiative aims to improve regulatory compliance and enhance safety measures for fuel stations, which are crucial to the city’s infrastructure. The authorities have stressed that all fuel stations must operate within the boundaries of urban planning and safety standards to avoid further violations and potential closures.
