Don't fill cooking gas by the roadside, DPR warns

The Department of Petroleum Resources has condemned the practice of refilling cooking gas, also known as Liquefied Petroleum Gas, LPG by the roadside.

Zonal Operations Controller of DPR, Abubakar Buba promised to eliminate this sharp practice by teaming up with the Civil defense to put an end to the act which could lead to loss of lives and properties.

“Nigerians, henceforth, should go to LPG refilling centre and refill their gases. They should not allow any roadside gas retailer, whether it is approved or not approved to carry their cylinder and decant there; it is not acceptable; it is not good.

“We are advising Nigerians to always go with their cylinders and exchange it for a full one, instead of refilling from a cylinder to a cylinder, it is not allowed," he said.

In addition, Managing Director of Merrigas, Mr. Chris Ikeliani urged operators to adhere to LPG guidelines.

“Gas is a volatile product; more volatile than the ordinary petrol, than the PMS. It requires very serious regulation. There is no doubt that you need the DPR to ensure that every gas retail point must be well regulated so that it doesn’t cause inflammation all over the place.

“Recently, you know there has been a lot of fire from gas plants or gas outlets that are not well located. Some are located in very small spaces inside shops and with a little spark it goes off and consumes a lot of properties and even human beings. It is because of that you need to handle it very carefully,” the CEO said.

The regulatory body also added that no individual is meant to own cooking gas cylinders. It added that at the point of retail, consumers are expected to exchange their old cylinders for another one to be provided by retailers.

“We are advising Nigerians to always go with their cylinders and exchange it for a full one, instead of refilling from a cylinder to a cylinder, it is not allowed.

“And for the marketers, LPG marketers and retailers, I am advising them that this exercise is going to be continuous and I am advising them to always come to the office, its either to get a license or regularise, we are always available for them. Our exercise is not to get them out of the market, let them come and make it legal,” Buba warned.