By Dominic Hlordzi
Consumers have been cautioned against keeping their Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinders indoors. The practice is considered extremely dangerous.
In case of leakage, the naked eye cannot see gas, hence the need to keep cylinders outside to prevent fire outbreaks.
Head of Consumer Services at the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Mrs. Eunice Budu Nyarko, made the call during interactions with traders, market women, artisans, and hawkers, among others, on LPG safety awareness and sensitisations in some communities in the Eastern Region.
She noted that some people do not want to keep their cylinders outside because of the fear that they would be stolen.
“If you have cylinders in any enclosed place, ensure it is in the open and take steps to protect it to avoid it being stolen,” she urged.
Mrs. Budu Nyarko stressed the need for consumers of petroleum products such as LPG to be conscious of their safety.
These engagements, which took place in communities such as Nsawam, Suhum, Adawso, Akateng, and Koforidua and its environs, featured interactive sessions, presentations, and distribution of educational materials on LPG safety.
This culminated in a grand durbar at the Suhum Lorry Station and a town hall meeting in Koforidua, where stakeholders emphasised the urgency of transitioning to cleaner energy sources.
Addressing stakeholders at the Durbar and Town Hall, a Supervisor with the Gas Directorate at the NPA, Mr. Johnson Gbagbo Jnr. urged the public to switch from the use of charcoal and firewood to gas to protect their health and save the environment, adding that smoke from charcoal fire affects the eyes and lungs of women and children who stay around their mothers while cooking.
He said the introduction of the Cylinder Recirculation Model (CRM) was to ensure safety in LPG distribution and use and also to encourage more people to use LPG.
He explained further that the CRM program allows people to exchange their old cylinders for new ones, adding that they would only pay for the filled gas.
Mr. Gbagbo Jnr. educated participants on essential LPG safety measures and addressed concerns raised by individuals who are unwilling to transition to LPG usage.
He assured them of the safety and efficiency of LPG when handled properly.
He said the idea was to clear defective cylinders from the system and prevent gas-related explosions at homes.
Mr. Gbagbo Jnr. told the people that the Cylinder Recirculation Model had already commenced in parts of Accra and Kumasi and will soon be extended to other regions.
He stated that the NPA is actively inspecting designated sites in Koforidua and nearby towns for the establishment of Cylinder Exchange Points (CEPs) and Cylinder Distribution Outlets (CDOs).
He urged entrepreneurs to seize the opportunity presented by the CRM initiative to set up CEPs and CDOs and make sure that they comply with NPA’s licensing and permitting requirements.
The Suhum Fire Safety Officer, ADOI Bruce Kwame, who led a demonstration on firefighting drills, urged the people to observe LPG safety tips such as ensuring adequate ventilation for cylinders, lighting match before turning on gas, and avoiding placing filled or empty cylinders near naked flame or inflammable liquids.
ADOI Bruce Kwame also cautioned people against using mobile phones close to gas, as it could ignite fire.
He asked the people to allow newly filled cylinders to settle for about 30 minutes before use.
In his remarks, the Eastern Regional Chairman of the National Service Authority, Mr. Benjamin Oduro Asante, who chaired the durbar, lauded the NPA for the sensitisation campaign, as it would ensure safety in the use of gas in homes.
He noted that gas could be a good friend when used properly, but it could also be a bad friend when used inappropriately.
The durbars were part of an extensive LPG awareness campaign embarked upon by NPA in collaboration with the Oil Sustainability Program (OSP) of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Ministry of Energy, and Digicraft Advertising.
The durbars were preceded by market outreach activities where officials engaged with local communities on the safe use of LPG and its benefits over traditional fuels.
Participants included professionals, traders, drivers, and students.
The Eastern Regional campaign is part of a nationwide initiative by the NPA to promote LPG as a sustainable and environmentally friendly cooking fuel.
Similar campaigns have been held in the Greater Accra, Ashanti, Volta and Western regions.
These efforts align with global strategies to mitigate climate change by reducing reliance on biomass fuels, which contribute to deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions.
