284 subpar and vandalized gas cylinders were seized by the National Police Service (NPS) in collaboration with the Energy Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA).
The proprietor of the illegal gas refilling facility was detained by police officers and EPRA representatives during the well-planned raid on a small business in Kikuyu, Kiambu County, on January 13. He will now be charged in court.
In accordance with Legal Notice 100, the Petroleum Act, No. 2 of 2019, the 284 filled Liquefied Petroleum and Gas (LPG) cylinders did not adhere to the established standards, claims EPRA.
The refilling of a cylinder by a person or entity other than the brand owner or without the brand owner’s prior written agreement is one of the charges that the business owner is accused of violating.
If allowed, the consent must be provided to the authority in accordance with the law.
The merchant was also charged with refilling cylinders that had been altered, disfigured, or bore unintelligible inscriptions.
He was also charged with replenishing gas cylinders that needed to be repaired, prequalified, or declared scrap.
The EPRA advised the public to be watchful and to report to the Authority right away any suspected instances of fraud in the petroleum sector.
The Act states that violators who refill, trade, or rebrand cylinders without the brand owner’s express agreement are subject to fines of at least Ksh10 million.
Additionally, there is a Ksh20,000 fine for each non-conforming cylinder when they are stored and made available for sale.
Part of the Act states, “The LPG licensee shall be subject to a fine of not less than Ksh200,000 for each offense if the licensee fails to comply with the duties set forth in these regulations.”
Other violations include importing LPG via unapproved methods, failing to notify an accident involving LPG within the required 48 hours, and failing to keep the documents that cylinder wholesalers are required to keep under the regulations.
Transporting, importing, or exporting LPG without a current permit from the government is also illegal.
