1. Refineries: Petrol is produced at petroleum refineries, where crude oil undergoes various processes such as distillation, cracking, and reforming to create different petroleum products, including petrol.
2. Storage Terminals: From the refineries, petrol is transported to storage terminals. These terminals are strategically located to serve a specific region or area. Petrol is stored in large storage tanks at these terminals.
3. Pipeline Transportation: For long-distance transportation, petrol is often transported through pipelines. Pipelines are underground or above-ground networks of pipes that allow petrol to flow over long distances efficiently and rapidly.
4. Shipping: For transportation over water, petrol can be transported in specialised vessels called tankers. These tankers are designed to safely carry large quantities of petrol and other petroleum products across oceans and seas.
5. Rail Transportation: In some cases, petrol is transported by rail. Railcars are specially designed to carry hazardous materials, including petrol, ensuring safety and stability during transportation.
6. Local Distribution: Once petrol arrives at the regional storage terminals or ports, it needs to be distributed to individual petrol stations. This is where local transport companies come into play. They use tanker trucks or smaller transport vehicles to transport petrol from the terminals to the petrol stations.
7. Petrol Station Storage: When the petrol delivery truck arrives at the petrol station, it connects to the underground storage tanks at the station. Petrol is pumped from the truck into the underground tanks, where it is safely stored until it is ready to be dispensed into vehicles.
8. Dispensing to Customers: Customers visit the petrol station to refuel their vehicles. When a customer requests petrol, the petrol station attendant selects the appropriate grade of petrol and uses a pump to dispense the petrol into the customer's vehicle.
Each stage of petrol transportation is carefully regulated and monitored to ensure safety, environmental protection, and efficiency. Stringent measures are in place to minimise risks associated with the handling and transportation of hazardous materials like petrol.
