dyton mupawaenda
Herald Reporter
AT least 80 illegal Liquefied Petroleum gas vendors (LP gas) were arrested and convicted, while more than 60 orphan cylinders were confiscated since the beginning of the year, the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) has said.
This comes amid a surge in LP gas-related accidents, with law abiding retailers expressing concern over the mushrooming of roadside and backyard LP gas filling posts.
The Environmental Management Agency (EMA) also reports that over 40 tickets were issued to illegal LP gas retailers, especially the backdoor outlets commonly found in residential areas.
Speaking to The Herald yesterday, ZERA head of petroleum department, Engineer Andrew Guri, said out of the over 40 licenced LP gas wholesalers, 25 were found selling gas to unlicenced retailers and given a final warning.
“We reviewed LP gas wholesaler licence conditions in 2022 to ensure they sell only LP gas to licenced retailers using KYC principles.
“To again ensure that they only deal in 48kg cylinders belonging to themselves and not fill other 48kg cylinders without the brand owner’s consent.”
Eng Guri said wholesalers selling gas to unlicenced vendors risk losing their licences adding that they were working flat out to ensure that all rules are followed.
“More than 60x48kg orphan cylinders were confiscated and they paid fines ranging from US$50 to US$600,” he said.
“We also initiated review of LP gas regulations to facilitate compliance and reinforcement – Draft Review of SI 57 now 90 percent complete”.
In terms of Petroleum (Liquefied Petroleum Gases) Regulations, Statutory Instrument 57 of 2014, LPG wholesale and retail activities can only be conducted under Zera licence granted to companies with physical facilities approved by relevant local authorities, fire departments and Environmental Management Agency(EMA).
Under the LP gas regulations, retailers wishing to obtain or renew licences are required to obtain a certificate to handle hazardous substances from EMA.
EMA’s environmental education and publicity manager, Mrs Amkela Sidange, said the agency was periodically conducting routine compliance inspections and raids to ensure compliance.
“So far this year the agency has issued 48 tickets to illegal LP gas retail outlets. Regular intensive joint operations are being conducted jointly with ZRP and other relevant departments to curb illegal LP gas retailing and to ensure compliance by licensed LPG retailers.
“Members of the public should alert EMA and other law enforcement agencies if they suspect LP gas or any other hazardous substance is being sold without a licence from the Agency.
“This is done to ensure safety of the public and to protect the environment,” she said.
According to Statutory Instrument 268 of 2018, transportation, storage, sale and use of hazardous substances should be done under a licence from ZERA.
The Liquefied Petroleum Gas Safety Association of Zimbabwe chief executive officer, Mr Robert Mandeya, said the blitz against LP gas wholesalers that are selling gas to unregistered players must be intensified.
“The people who are fuelling the black market are the wholesalers of LP gas,” he said. ZERA and the police should pounce on any wholesalers who supply gas to unlicenced retailers.”
A licenced LP gas retailer, Mr Godfrey Madanha, also bemoaned stiff competition from a growing number of illegal filling posts.
“As a professional trader, having invested the capital needed in the infrastructure, I would also expect a return on my investment, and the only way I can return my investment is when the ground is level,” he said.
According to ZERA, the country has over 40 licensed LP gas wholesalers, at least 750 licenced retailers while over 4000 LP gas fillers received proper filling method training and 15 LP gas installers have been registered so far.
Online Reporter