The Manufactured Gas Company of Havana ratified that in the production plants of the capital there have been no leaks of this product, thus responding to the concerns of its clients, official media on the Island report.
Nadezhda González Durruthy, technical director of the Base Business Unit (UEB) of Production in that entity, confirmed to the diary Granma that in the event that there had been a leak, «it does not have to be felt in the city. The level of odorant that is handled does not create an odor cloud.
In this way the expert responded to the growing concern of the Havana population, which made the company will reinforce the attention to the reports of possible gas leaks, until completing 15 brigades with the necessary means and equipment to meet the demand, the media reports.
For your part Daina Álvarez Álvarez, director of the mentioned business unit, clarified to the newspaper that «Our product is not oil and coal, as has been stated, but a mixture of natural gas with air from the atmosphere, at certain percentages, to obtain the energy necessary for cooking. This technology is called methanated air.”
“As a result of the increase in gas odor reports, the process was thoroughly reviewed at each point by our specialists. We verified that no abnormal operation had been carried out: nothing was added, no valve was touched, there was no overpressure. We made the corresponding measurements and everything was correct,” added the specialist, quoted by Granma.
Regarding the possibility that the odorization process has generated an alert among the population, González Durruthy ruled out this assumption and told the media that it is a routine procedure.The addition of ethyl mercaptan so that the gas takes on the right smell and the customer can identify it. “All the time the odorization has shown the established parameters,” he said.
Meanwhile, Argelia Reytor Suñer, general director of the company, pointed out that before the unfortunate explosion that occurred in the Saratoga Hotel last May 6, an average of 30 possible leaks at home or in external networks were reported daily. After the event, up to 140 calls per day have been received, the publication specifies.
In this sense, González Durruthy highlighted that before the accident in the Saratoga, people smelled gas due to a leak and did not report it, but now they do. “People are more far-sighted and cautious,” he told Granmaand remarked that at other times, when the type of gas is changed, the reports also increase because the smell changes.
“For us, all the people who have called have done so with the best intentions; although there are panic calls, which are logical, “said the Technical Director, who told the newspaper how, when responding to some alerts, it was about places where they do not have a kitchen or gas pipe.
“In the same way, you go to the place and the citizen is given peace of mind. But we have had a high percentage of reports in which there are no leaks », he limited.
The directive stressed that when a report of this type originates, the Comprehensive Emergency Attention Center, which operates 24 hours, receives it, and the guard cars will carry out the inspection. He confirmed that the surveillance and response system has been reinforced in the capital.
According to Granma, The Manufactured Gas Company points out that all reports will continue to be addressed and reviewed, since there is always the possibility that there may be domestic or state leaks inside the facilities or in underground networks.
Regarding the possibility that these generate an explosion, the general director of the company argued that “depending on where it is, confined spaces are more dangerous,” the media reports.
Nadezhda González told the media that among the causes that could generate an explosion of this type would be delays in lighting the match, or that the air or water when boiling puts out the fire.
“In that time it takes to realize the problem, a leak occurs, and if the kitchen is not ventilated, an explosive atmosphere can be created. That’s what we refer to as negligence,” he said.
The official stressed that one can speak of customer negligence when the stoves are in poor condition, old keys or the hoses are not adequate, because there are customers who make installations on their own and not with the company, and the technical quality of these Jobs cannot be guaranteed.
Regarding the recent explosion that occurred in a house in Old Havana, González Durruthy explained to the newspaper that in that case there was not even a report. «The kitchen does not have any ventilation, and that house does not have the technical conditions to have gas. The stove was left open by accident and since the place is so small, in a while the gas accumulated and the explosion happened. We know because the firefighters turned off the gas when they arrived », he argued.
The specialist also confirmed that one or two events of this type usually occur, but that none occurred during the past year.
