This archive report was first published on 8 June 2020.
On June 25th, 2019, the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) gazetted the Petroleum (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) Regulations, 2019, aimed at enhancing consumer safety and fair competition in the LPG industry.
Fast forward to 2020, EPRA has launched a public education campaign, dubbed Stori ya Gas, to sensitize traders, consumers, and other stakeholders on the regulations.
According to EPRA, the country has recorded over 12 accidents involving gas cylinder explosions over the last two years, claiming at least eight lives.
The accidents can be attributed to poor handling of gas cylinders, which is a major concern for the authority.
EPRA Director General, Pavel Oimeke, said the 2019 regulations will revolutionize and sanitize the LPG sector in the country, heightening the safety of consumers and bringing order and fair play in the industry.
Notable safety measures being implemented under the regulations include tracking of cylinders throughout the distribution chain, the ban of gas cylinders that bear no brand names, and insurance of consumers against gas-related accidents.
Consumers are also required to only purchase gas from licensed LPG retailers and to witness weighing of the cylinder at the point of sale.
Enforcement of the regulations is spearheaded by EPRA in collaboration with other government agencies, including the Anti-Counterfeit Authority (ACA), the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), the National Police Service, and the Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI).
