168 Day, this Friday (16/8), mobilized about 7 thousand residents of the 30 communities neighboring our pipeline zones in 12 cities in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. The actions developed throughout the day to reinforce the importance of everyone's participation in combating fuel theft in our pipelines achieved the proposed goals. “Now everyone knows the 168 number by heart,” said resident of Barão do Amapá (Duque de Caxias - Rio de Janeiro - RJ), Romildo Inácio da Silva, known as Seu Jacó.
The Pipeline Zone Maintenance Manager in São Paulo, Daniel Sampaio, concluded that it was a positive experience. “It was very profitable, it achieved the goal. The community took part in a massive way and the message was delivered. The message is that the fuel transportation through the pipelines is extremely safe and very efficient as long as there are no interventions by unauthorized people. We constantly invest and develop monitoring technology and partnership with government agencies, but the community aspect is an extremely important link in this fight against illegal interventions. And everyone became aware of the importance of the 168 telephone and the signs that they should watch for danger and suspicion about the pipeline zone”, he commented.
“It was very positive to be able to strengthen this relationship with the community once again. It is our greatest ally in combating this criminal practice”, concluded the sector manager of Rio-Minas pipelines and terminals, Felipe Toneli Chagas.
Activities were carried out in tents set up by the company and public schools. Among the actions, there were presentations of social projects, services such as legal advice, pressure measurement and glucose rate, as well as lectures on first aid and conscious use of water. Children were also entitled to circus and zumba classes and participated in face painting workshops. Young people were also able to attend the presentation of a group of slam, a rap battle event.
Another highlight of the activities promoted on the day was a large panel painted in graphite in which the number 168 appears next to a company facility and the phrase "Emergency, authorizations, doubts and complaints: call free".
The company expects to reduce fuel thefts by 32% in 2019. In 2018, the number of clandestine diversions in our pipelines reached 261, practically three times what was recorded in 2016.
“Day of 168” is held annually, always on August 16, to reinforce the telephone number for residents to report any suspicious movements along our pipeline lanes. In 2018, contacts made by 168 grew by 65%. If we compare January 2018 with January 2019, the increase was 150%. The call is free and can be made 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This year, we also made the Whatsapp number (21) 999920-168 available for contact.