DPR Warns Against Illegal Refilling Of Gas Cylinders

The Department of Petroleum Resources has warned Liquefied Petroleum Gas retail outlets against cylinder-to-cylinder gas refilling and decanting because of the associated risks.

The Operations Controller, Yola DPR Office, Mr Sadeq Ibrahim, gave the warning at a one-day sensitisation meeting with gas retailers in the state held on Monday in Yola, according to a statement issued by the DPR.

Ibrahim said the warning became necessary to prevent fire disasters as well as protect lives and property of the people.

He said that the DPR would no longer tolerate the dangerous cylinder-to-cylinder gas refilling business for the safety of the people.

He said, “LPG cylinder-to-cylinder re-bottling, refilling and decanting is prohibited by Department of Petroleum Resources.

The trans-filling of the resources is not allowed and is against the DPR regulations and requirements because the business is highly hazardous and a threat to lives and property of the people.”

According to Ibrahim, the DPR has recorded many fire outbreak accidents across the country as a result of poor handling and unsafe cylinder-to-cylinder gas refilling process.

He advised the retailers to go and address how to improve their businesses as the department had no intent to push them out of the business.

He said that among the roles of the gas retailers as stated in the DPR regulations was to sell a full gas cylinder, either through cylinder exchange or a new one.

Ibrahim advised the gas retailers to put safety measures in their shops and also register with the DPR.

“All gas retailers in the state are advised to provide protection safety facilities to their workers and the shop. Also, the retailers’ outlets are advised to register with the DPR to obtain approved licences,” Ibrahim said.