Petroleum Act

Section 1. Interpretation and application Section 1(1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires, "petroleum" includes any inflammable liquid made from petroleum, coal, schist, shale, peat or any other bituminous substance or from any product of petroleum. Section 1(2) The Minister may by statutory instrument apply to any substance any of the provisions of this Act specified in the instrument with such modifications, if any, as may seem to the Minister to be desirable having regard to the nature of the substance to which the instrument relates. Section 1(3) When a statutory instrument has been made in respect of any substance under subsection (2), the provisions of this Act applied by the instrument shall, subject to such modifications, if any, as may be provided in the instrument, have effect as if the substance were included in the definition of "petroleum".

Section 2. Import, transport, storage, etc. Section Petroleum shall not be imported, unloaded, landed, loaded, transhipped, transported or kept except in accordance with the provisions of rules made under this Act.

Section 3. Rules Section 3(1) The Minister may make rules— Section 3(1)(a) defining the kind of petroleum to which the rules shall apply and dividing petroleum into classes or categories and making different provisions with regard to such classes or categories; Section 3(1)(b) prohibiting or regulating the use of petroleum of any class or category in connection with any specified trade, process or business and the possession of such petroleum by any person engaged in such trade, process or business; Section 3(1)(c) restricting and regulating the importation, landing, loading, shipping, transport and storage of petroleum and prescribing a system of licensing for the purposes aforesaid, the manner in which application for any such licence shall be made, the authorities which may grant the licence, the fees which may be charged for it and any other matters incidental thereto; Section 3(1)(d) providing for notice to be given by the owner or master of any ship entering a port with petroleum and for ascertaining the quantity and description of any petroleum on board any such ship; Section 3(1)(e) determining the places at which, and the conditions on and subject to which, petroleum may b...

Section 4. Petroleum not to be kept in contravention of rules Section The occupier of any premises in which petroleum is kept in contravention of any rules made under this Act commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding five hundred shillings for every day on which the contravention occurs or continues, and the court before whom any person is so convicted may order that the petroleum in respect of which the contravention occurs and any vessel in which it is contained be forfeited or otherwise dealt with in such manner as the court may think fit.

Section 5. Contravention of conditions of licence Section If any person to whom any licence is granted under rules made under this Act contravenes any of the conditions of the licence, he or she commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding five hundred shillings for every day on which the contravention occurs or continues.

Section 6. Contravention of rules relating to transport Section If any person contravenes any provision of any rules made under this Act relating to the transport of petroleum, he or she commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding four hundred shillings for every day on which the offence occurs or continues, and the court before which any person is convicted under this section may order that the petroleum in respect of which the offence was committed and any vessel in which it is contained be forfeited or otherwise dealt with in such manner as the court may think fit.

Section 7. Contravention of rules in respect of ships Section if the proceedings are against the owner or master of a ship for an offence in respect of the unloading, loading, landing or transhipment of petroleum, that all reasonable means were taken by the master to prevent the commission of the offence, and that the offence was not caused or facilitated by any act or neglect on the part of the owner or of any person engaged or employed by the owner or master; and

Section 8. Failure to give notice to port authorities Section The owner or master of any ship carrying a cargo, any part of which consists of petroleum, who fails to give such notice to the port authorities, upon entering a port, as may be required by rules made under this Act, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding two thousand shillings.

Section 9. General penalty Section Any person who contravenes any provision of any rules made under this Act for which no penalty is especially provided commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding five hundred shillings.