LPG Plant Operators Asked To Obtain Permits

Tag : lpg plant
THE Chief Executive Director of the National Petroleum Authority(NPA), Mr John Attafuah, has asked Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG)operators in the country to obtain permit from regulatoryinstitutions before installing their gas plants.

He said operators are required by law to consult agencies such asthe Town and Country Planning, the Environmental Protection Agency,Ghana National Fire Service, the National Petroleum Authority andthe district assemblies on guidelines for the establishment andoperation of LPG filling plants.

At a two-day workshop for LPG marketing companies and operators ofLPG filling plants in Accra, he warned that those who fail tocomply would have their plants shut down.

The workshop aims at educating operators on how to handle theoperation of LPG to stem accidents.

Mr Attafuah said LPG is very important in our daily lives andtherefore needed careful handling and safe usage.

The chief executive stated that LPG becomes very dangerous wheresafety measures are not strictly adhered to.

He said “if we do not handle gas properly we will enter intoserious problems leading to loss of lives and property”.

Mr Attafuah said a visit by the NPA to some service stationsrevealed that most of the operators do not follow the regulationsof the LPG and urged them to stick to the rules to ensure a safeuse of the gas.

The Assistant Chief Fire Officer of the Ghana National FireService, Philip Mensah, in an interview, said the service providesLPG operators with fire fighting material to help them during fireoutbreaks.

He said the service also organises training to sensitise them onthe detection of fire and how to handle fire fighting equipment.

The Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency(EPA), Mr Jonathan Allotey, said the usage of LPG has been on therise since its introduction into the country.

He noted that an increase in demand of LPG has attractedinvestments into the sector which has resulted in the proliferationof LPG filling plants.

“This situation poses serious threats to life and propertydue to the volatile nature of LPG and its potential to cause fireoutbreaks,” he added.

Mr Allotey added that the EPA is mandated under Act 490, 1994 toensure compliance with the requirements of the EnvironmentalAssessment Regulations 1999 for the establishment of LPG fillingplants.

He said the objective of the Legislative Instrument is to ensurethat these activities are carried out in an environmentally soundand safe manner to promote sustainable investments and developmentin the country.

Mr Allotey said the operation of LPG filling plants have generatedconcerns among the general public because of improper siting,non-compliance with conditions, inadequate technical knowledge andlack of skill on the part of persons employed to operate suchfacilities among others.