DPR tasks LPG plant operators on safety measures

.Seals 12 illegal gas plants in Enugu, Ebonyi

The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) has urged Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) plant operators to take necessary measures to ensure safety of end users of cooking gas in Kaduna State.

The DPR North West Zonal Operational Controller, Mr. Isa Tafida, gave the task at a one-day stakeholders’ sensitisation meeting on Wednesday in Kaduna.

Tafida said relevant agencies were taking necessary regulatory measures to ensure only licensed operators dispensed the commodity to consumers.

He noted that the recent gas explosion at Sabo Tasha and the proliferation of LPG plants and retailers across the state informed the need to enlighten stakeholders on the requirements to adopt and adhere strictly to Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) in dispensing gas to consumers.

The official said sensitising both operators and consumers became necessary to prevent future occurrence.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that eight persons lost their lives while four others sustained various degrees of injury and property worth millions of Naira destroyed in acetylene gas explosion on Jan. 4 at Sabo Tasha, Kaduna.

Following the incident, the State Government banned retailing of cooking gas within residential areas.

The government had also shut down more than 87 gas retail outlets in Kaduna, Zaria and Kafanchan areas.

“LPG is an excellent environmentally friendly fuel with hundreds of millions of satisfied consumers in every part of the world.

“However, like all forms of energy, LPG is potentially hazardous if mishandled. Thus, the need to ensure adherence to standard operating procedure in handling the commodity.

“As the department desires to actualise the Federal Government aspiration of LPG penetration, prevent indiscriminate cutting of trees and checkmate desert encroachment, we call for more investment into the LPG market,” Tafida said.

The controller however warned the plant operators to against misuse of their license, adding that DPR will not hesitate to sanction any company operating against the approved standard of operating procedure.

He warned that any company caught selling to illegal retailers, decanting of LPG, supplying to unregistered bulk users as well as contravening safety regulations would have its license revoked.

“The acetylene gas explosion incident that occurred on January 4, at Sabon Tasha in Kaduna, is indeed going to linger in our memories for the quantum losses it brought.

“I will like to once more use this medium to condole the families and the state government for the losses.

“Although, DPR does not regulate industrial gases, it will not hesitate in sending its best team to support other agencies of the state government in identifying the root causes and also safe evacuation of the residual gas cylinders.

“This is because of our resolute commitment to ensure the safety of life and protection of the environment.

“The Department is willing to work with other stakeholders in clamping on illegal and unlicensed retailers in the state,” Tafida said.

He said the agency had conducted 94 inspections across the 38 licensed LPG plants and in the process sealed five plants that were not operating within the law.

“The five affected plants were sealed for various offences ranging from installation and upgrade without DPR approval, contravening safety regulations and non-conformity to Standard Operating Procedures,” he said.

In a presentation titled: ‘Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) As A Solution for safe LPG Plant Operation’,  the Assistant Chief Electrical, Gas Monitoring and Refutations-Operation Engineer, Mr Baba Terab, said like all forms of energy, LPG is potentially hazardous if mishandled.

“Gas leaks, heat, valves and poor earthing system as well as electrostatic build-up are possible causes of accidents or gas explosions at gas outlets.

“Some of the hotspots operators need to lookout for in LPG plants are the discharge hose, compressor, pressure relief valves, pipe connections, platform, car exhaust and generator room.

“Gas plant operators also need to have an alarm system, gas leak detector, fire alarm, smoke detectors in the administrative block as well as conduct training for staff through a DPR certified consultant in order to avert danger,” Terab advised.

He also urged LPG operators to have firefighting and emergency response equipment, in serviceable conditions at all times, while personnel engaged in LPG operations should receive formal training by competent persons for their normal activities and for emergencies.

NAN reports that more than 30 licenced plant operators attended the sensitisation meeting.

Meanwhile, the DPR in Enugu said it detected and sealed 13 illegal Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) plants in Ebonyi and Enugu states during its recent routine monitoring exercise.

The Controller, Mr. Okechukwu Okoro, made the disclosure on Wednesday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu.

Okoro said that 12 plants and two retail outlets were sealed in Ebonyi while one plant and 15 retail outlets were sealed in Enugu.

He said the exercise was informed by the need to urgently contain the rampant cases of gas explosion, mostly caused by unlicensed gas retail outlets.

He said that the department inspected 30 gas plants in Abakaliki and Afipko urban in Ebonyi, where it sealed 12 gas plants and two retail outlets.

According to him, the owners of the gas plants and retail outlets have been directed to regularise their operational licences within 14 days to meet minimum safety standard.

He said that the operators of the retail outlets were also instructed to relocate out of the densely populated areas to safer locations.

Okoro appealed to LPG users not to patronise unlicensed gas plants and retail outlets to avoid gas explosion in their domain.

“Owners of licensed facilities are permitted by law to display photocopies of their current licences in their premises.

“We have been authorised to use security agencies to enforce compliance at the expiration of the 14 days grace,” Okoro said.

Also, the Head, Gas Monitoring and Regulation Unit, Mr Linus Ikegbunam, said the unit uncovered one unlicensed plant and 15 retail outlets during its inspection in Enugu, Oji River, Inyi and Nsukka.

Ikegbunam said that the retail outlets had 14 days to relocate to safer locations or face severe sanctions.