site.btaFuel Level Sensors to Be Installed on Locomotives and Tank Cars Carrying Fuel, Transport Minister Karadjov Says

Fuel level sensors will be installed on locomotives and tank cars carrying fuel, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport and Communications Grozdan Karadjov told Parliament on Friday in response to a question related to theft of fuel at the railway station in Karnobat. The purpose of the trackers is to signal when fuel starts to be siphoned off at an unauthorized place, and those siphoning the fuel are to be caught on the spot. Karadjov said that the measure would have a preventive effect against future fuel thefts.

Six employees of the National Railway Infrastructure Company and BDZ Cargo have been arrested for the theft of fuel at the Karnobat station. Karadjov also said he did not have details of the investigation and recalled that he had ordered a probe into the reasons and circumstances that helped the theft take place. The probe is expected to be completed by March 15.

Theft of fuel especially during its transportation on railways are not something new, there have been many such incidents in the past which compromised the image of Bulgaria's railways as a safe transport operator, he said. Karadjov noted that a meeting with transport companies on Thursday outlined measures to install cameras for additional illumination at stations where trains stop or have longer stays.