Sunday, February 9, 2025

ZLPGA calls for LPG retail ban amid rising fire incidents

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The Zambia Liquefied Petroleum Gas Association (ZLPGA) has called on the Energy Regulation Board (ERB) to ban the retail sale of LPG to curb fire incidents linked to gas usage in the country.

ZLPGA President Obed Chiluba says illegal kiosks selling gas without licenses are a serious safety hazard that needs urgent intervention.

Speaking on ZANIS TV’s Power Talk Programme, Mr Chiluba warned that unregulated LPG dealers that are flooding the market with unsafe gas are endangering consumers.

“We have seen an alarming rise in unregulated gas sales, and if we don’t act now, we could face a major disaster,” he warned.

He urged the ERB to enforce stricter measures that will ensure that only licensed dealers are allowed to supply gas through an exchange system for empty cylinders.

Mr Chiluba noted that the demand for LPG has gone up due to electricity shortages, making it a prime target for illegal dealers.

“These traders do not even have fire extinguishers or Personal Protective Equipment, what can they do in case of a fire?” He asked.

Mr Chiluba emphasized the need for community sensitization on safe gas usage, as many Zambians are still new to cooking with LPG.

Meanwhile, ERB Acting Manager Public Relations, Musonda Chibulu, acknowledged the growing number of people turning to LPG as an alternative source of energy.

He said the ERB is working on consumer-focused initiatives to address safety concerns.

Mr. Chibulu also revealed that the ERB is tightening regulations to eliminate illegal LPG dealers.

“Safety is our priority, and we will ensure that only those who meet the required safety standards can operate,” he assured.

The call to ban the refilling of gas by retailers in LPG comes in the wake of rising reports of gas-related fires in different parts of the country, leading to concerns over safety in households using LPG for cooking.

11 COMMENTS

    • ERB previously never allowed petrol and diesel service, filling, stations to be built in the residential compounds. Today every corner house has been erased to make way for new petrol stations. Do we have fires as a result? No. Safety standards are robust now.

      Gas stove are just as hazardous as petrol. Also LPG is relatively new to Zambia. Owing to power shotage, this new cooking system is here to stay. Consumers must be alerted on dangers involved to reduce imminent risks. ERB is not even part of the problem of these alleged fires and calling out ERB to ban retail outlets proves that LPGAZ has dialed a wrong number.
      Please check the no. and call again.

  1. We used to have accredited dealers filling cylinders apart from Zamox and Afrox plus others
    Its purely GRZ’s failure to monutor the situation that this has come about.
    Dont pass the buck

  2. He’s not thinking properly. The reported fire incidents aren’t at dealers’ premises but private homes. So how does that ban of agents solve the problem of a lack of safety measures by users? What’s required is to educate users on safe usage. LPG isn’t easily accessible and dealers and agents undergo stringent licensing procedures. Think before you make uninformed blanket calls

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  3. As always, we only react when we are fully engulfed in fires. We didn’t warn the children about the dangers of playing with fire. Poverty is a cancer, no chance to sit down and plan. ERB could have hired some musicians to make a song about fire safety….like we always do. Kikiki

  4. How about coming up with education and awareness programs to improve skills and knowledge of this new energy source instead of halting. You are trying diverisfy energy source from charcoal and electricity and all you can come up is halting LPG … such a useless thought.

    • This is what I was about to say. These people need income and the best thing to do is educate them. In Asian countries it’s not strange to see small holdings running this type of business in markets. Investment doesn’t mean huge companies with huge capital money….. just develop these small things and they will mushroom. Let not the big suppliers influence your decision. These people have no other means of survival. Actually they are safer than those people stealing Zesco installations.

  5. What’s required is consumer education in how to handle hazardous products and not a ban. I don’t what the ERB is waiting for. Safe storage, safe transportation and safe usage, that is.

  6. We have been using LPG in Botswana for decades. We don’t have problems with fires. The ERB must create regulations to monitor the sale of gas and mount vigorous education campaigns.

    • Most countries including Europe don’t use electricity for cooking or for heating. It’s only here where even cooking mbeba we want to use electricity.

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