This archive report was first published on 12 November 2019.
Gas-related accidents are a common occurrence in Kenya, with three people injured in Nyeri in 2018 after a gas cylinder exploded. In 2017, a businessman sued the state-owned National Oil Corporation for compensation after his gas cylinder burst into flames, leaving him with burns.
With the increasing use of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) in households, there is a growing concern about the safety of gas storage and handling. However, a new solution is emerging in the form of bulk gas storage, which could prevent such accidents and injuries.
According to Mr. Ken Mugambi, a general manager at the National Oil Corporation, bulk gas storage is a safer way to store gas. The tank holds up to 1000 kg of gas, which is delivered to the kitchen through a pipeline network, and the meter ensures that the exact amount of gas consumed is billed.
Under the bulk gas storage system, an underground tank is constructed near the house or institution, and the gas is stored in the tank. The system also includes a meter and firefighting equipment for monitoring and emergency purposes.
Other safety measures include an internally installed excess flow valve that ensures only the required amount of gas flows through the system, a leak detection and emergency shutdown mechanism, and a pressure relief valve that enables the tank to vent out in cases of high pressure build-up.
The bulk gas storage method has been successfully implemented in other countries, including Ghana and Senegal. However, it is not enough to create awareness on LPG use. While addressing the impact of biomass fuels on the environment and health, it should also be noted that better ways of handling gas should be implemented.
The project is expected to come to life in May next year, with a successful pilot program already implemented at Freedom Heights Apartments in Kihingo village in Langata. The current program is ongoing at Sadi Road, South B.
