The rules apply to the storage of large amounts of oil and will affect industrial, commercial and institutional sites.

The regulations are aimed at addressing the potential environmental dangers of leaks and are intended to reduce and prevent the number of oil-related pollution incidents.

The Northern Ireland Environment Agency says the new measures will benefit businesses by helping them avoid the cost of clean-up incurred after oil pollution incidents.

All oil storage tanks over 200 litres will be required to be stored in a bund, a secondary containment system that can contain the contents of the tank if a leak occurs.

All kinds of oil will be covered by the regulations, including petrol, mineral oils, waste oils and vegetable oils.

Alison Brown

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