The block in Rahova that exploded had a contract with the company accused by the tenants of breaking the seal. What Distrigaz says about the company's recommendation

The tenants' association in the Rahova block that exploded on Friday had a contract with Amproperyconstruct SRL (AMPCgaz), which the tenants say broke the seal set by Distrigaz Sud Retelele the day before, according to a document obtained by Antena 3 CNN. The contract was signed on Thursday, October 16. The administrator of the block told the journalists on Friday that this company was recommended to them by Distrigaz Rețele Sud to carry out the inspection of the installations and the repairs.

In the contract presented by Antena 3, it is stated that the company is the holder of ANRE authorization and that the object of the contract is “the provision of technical inspection services of the gas installation after a gas shut-off event”.

The value of the service provided was 2,970 lei. The contract states that it “comes into force on the date of signing”, meaning October 16.

The administrator of the block declared, according to Antena 3, that the seal placed by Distrigaz Sud Rețele a day before the explosion was broken by AMPCgaz.

The tenants say the company left without checking

Another tenant told, on Friday, that a company recommended by Distrigaz came on Thursday evening and broke the seal, turned on the gas valve without checking the apartments, then the team asked for 1,500 lei, with the promise that they would check the same day.

“They gave us a phone number. The administrator got in touch with that company, she said it costs us 2,700 lei to come and check all the apartments and let us use the gas. I said ok. The ones I contacted collaborate with Distrigas”, said the tenant. He said that the company representative asked for 1,500 lei without checking.

“And now the administrator lady says “Sir, how can we give you 1,500 lei? You don't have to check, that we said you have to check? And she says: “no, we'll let you go, pay 1,500 lei, we'll let you go until tomorrow, and tomorrow we have to sign a contract to install a sensor in each apartment. And I didn't agree to that payment. Let's let the gas go without any checking pipe and the gentleman went, closed the tap to place with the broken seal. It closed and went and was good gone. The smell remained the same strong in the staircase. I stayed with the doors open all night at the block and in the morning what happened happened,” the tenant added.

The firm denies breaking the seal

Antena 3 CNN contacted a representative of the company on Friday, but she denied that the employees broke the seal. She said they made “just a finding” because the administrator “refused to continue the contract.”

HotNews tried to get in touch with the company's representatives, but they did not respond to phone calls, messages and e-mails.

Loss-making company, with headquarters where more than 2,000 companies are registered

Amproperyconstruct SRL (AMPCgaz) is a company established in July 2020, in Bucharest, with the object of activity “Sanitary, heating and air conditioning works”, according to Termene.ro data. Over 2,200 other companies were registered at the company's address, Argentina Street 25, many of them being deleted.

The company has three employees. Last year it recorded a loss of 83,000 lei, on a turnover of 642,000 lei.

On the company's website, it says that it deals with checking gas installations and overhauls in Bucharest and Ilfov, being authorized by ANRE and ISCIR. “Safe, compliant and modern works”, AMPCgaz presents itself on the website.

The company is fully owned by Mircea Alexandru Nițulescu, who also owns the company NZZ Word SRL, established this year.

What Distrigaz says about the company it recommended

HotNews contacted the distribution company Distrigaz to ask why it recommended AMPCgaz and on what criteria such recommendations are made.

“The notice given to customers, by which they are invited to consult the list of companies authorized by ANRE, is made in accordance with the legislation in force, namely ANRE Order No. 179/2015 for the approval of the Procedure regarding the technical checks and revisions of natural gas use installations”, replied the Distrigaz company.

“According to the same order, the verification and revision of the user installation is carried out only by economic operators authorized by the National Energy Regulatory Authority (ANRE). The list of authorized economic operators can be found on the website www.anre.ro”, Distrigaz stated.

Three people died and 20 were injured in an explosion that occurred on Friday morning in a block of flats in the Rahova district, in Sector 5 of the capital. The building had 108 apartments in which about 400 people lived.