Peter Matika, [email protected]
ONLY one out of every 10 liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) retailers operating in Bulawayo’s residential areas is licensed as illegal traders flood the city with authorities having launched a joint operation to close in on the illegality that has put properties at increased risk of fire.
The joint operations involve the City of Bulawayo Fire Brigade, the Environmental Management Agency (EMA), the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (Zera) and the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP).
It comes in the wake of the Bulawayo Ambulance and Fire Brigade department’s concern that the gas outlets continue to mushroom in neighbourhoods, often operating dangerously close to homes and other properties.
The authority said the proliferation of unregulated gas retailing points has become a growing headache warning that the sale and storage of LPG in residential areas could expose communities to devastating fires and explosions.
Fire Brigade chief fire officer Mr Mhlangano Moyo said the situation was particularly worrying, as the majority of LPG retailers operating in residential neighbourhoods were not licensed, making it difficult for authorities to guarantee compliance with safety requirements.
He said only about 10 percent of the gas retailers operating in residential areas had the necessary licences, leaving the overwhelming majority operating outside the regulatory framework.
Mr Moyo said the situation was concerning such that even established gas companies had reportedly been discouraged from completing registration processes because of the mushrooming of illegal competitors.
He cited some big operators that had initially registered but subsequently stopped registering their outlets as illegal gas retailing sites continued emerging in residential neighbourhoods.
“What actually happened is that Value Gas, Payload and Envirogas had initially registered, but due to the sprouting of these illegal gas sites within residential areas, they ended up not registering,” he said.
Mr Moyo said a drive through some residential neighbourhoods revealed the extent of the problem, with Njube and Cowdray Park among the areas experiencing a particularly worrying situation.
“For example, if you drive along BB Burombo in the Njube area, there are about four illegal sites, and for Cowdray Park, it is even worse,” he said.
The concerns come amid growing reliance on LPG by households and businesses as an alternative energy source, particularly as residents seek convenient cooking solutions and alternatives to other sources of energy.
However, authorities warn that the increasing demand for gas should not come at the expense of public safety, particularly where operators are setting up retail points without meeting the required regulatory standards.
Unlike ordinary household commodities, LPG is highly flammable and requires proper handling, transportation and storage.
Poorly managed gas cylinders, leaking valves, inappropriate storage facilities and exposure to ignition sources can create dangerous situations, particularly in densely populated residential areas.
An accident involving gas cylinders can have serious consequences, potentially affecting neighbouring properties and putting residents, customers and emergency responders at risk.
Mr Moyo said the Fire Brigade was working with other regulatory authorities to clamp down on illegal gas retailing through coordinated inspections targeting residential areas.
The inspections are intended to identify operators trading without the required licences, assess compliance with safety requirements and ensure that those handling LPG observe the relevant regulations.
Mr Moyo said offenders faced fines ranging from US$200 to US$1 000, depending on the regulating authority involved.
He, however, clarified that the charges were not necessarily imposed as a single consolidated fine, as ZERA and the Bulawayo City Council had separate regulatory mandates and could impose their own charges.
The enforcement measures are part of wider efforts to discourage illegal fuel and gas trading, which authorities say can expose communities to unnecessary risks.
However, the continued emergence of illegal outlets suggests that inspections and penalties alone may not be enough to address the problem.
Mr Moyo said the Fire Brigade was complementing enforcement operations with public awareness campaigns targeting different sections of the community.
The awareness programmes are intended to equip residents with information on identifying unsafe practices, understanding the risks associated with storing flammable substances and reporting suspicious activities.
Schools and churches provide important platforms for reaching families and communities, while radio broadcasts allow authorities to disseminate safety messages to a wider audience.
Residents are also being encouraged to play an active role in identifying and reporting illegal gas retailing activities rather than waiting for enforcement teams to discover the outlets during routine inspections.
In a move aimed at strengthening public participation, ZERA has introduced a toll-free hotline through which members of the public can anonymously report individuals selling LPG without licences or hoarding fuel in residential areas.
The reporting facility is expected to help authorities obtain information about illegal operations that may otherwise go unnoticed, particularly in neighbourhoods where outlets are established within residential properties.
The gas retailing concerns come against the backdrop of recurring fire safety challenges in residential and commercial areas, where improper storage of flammable substances can complicate emergency response efforts.
