Government rolls out tough regulatory measures to curtail frequent gas explosions

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has ordered the implementation of interim safety measures for all Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) infrastructure across the country following the Atomic Junction gas explosions.

The safety measures were introduced after a Cabinet meeting held on Thursday, October 12, 2017,

A statement released by the Presidency on Thursday and copied to the Ghana News Agency in Accra, said as part of the new safety regulations, there would be deployment of a task force within 30 days, to undertake risk assessment of all LPG facilities nationwide.

It said there would be recruitment by the National Petroleum Authority of 200 safety auditors to join the staff of the Factories Inspectorate Department of the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations, to check regularly on all LPG stations to ensure full compliance with safety standards and practices.

The statement called for immediate incorporation of standards and guidelines developed by the Ghana Standards Authority into the handling, storage and distribution of LPG, and other petroleum products as technical regulations to strengthen the enforcement regime.

“High-risk stations will be immediately closed down, in accordance with relevant law and without regard to any political or special interests. Low-risk stations will be designated for the supply of gas for vehicles with improved safety standards.

“Also, there will be a review of the current licensing regime to ensure that only facilities with demonstrable capacity and competence will engage in the LPG distribution business,” the statement said.

It said there would be an institution of mandatory training and certification of the staff of Regulators, Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) and LPG Marketing Companies to ensure the safe handling of LPG;

The statement said from now onwards the Cylinder Recirculation Model of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) distribution should be implemented and that LPG Bottling Plants would be sited away from congested commercial and population centres.

In addition, low-risk LPG stations would be designated for the supply of gas to vehicles and that the new measures should be completed within a year.

Seven persons have so far been confirmed dead, with 134 others injured in the Atomic Junction gas explosion.

The incident was the eighth in three years, which compelled the President to promise far reaching policy intervention to forestall a recurrence.

Report from the Cabinet Meeting on October 12, 2017 below

On Saturday, October7, 2017, the nation was shaken by a horrible gas explosion at Atomic Junction in Accra, which led to the loss of seven lives, 132 injuries and the destruction of valuable property. In the past three years, we have been subjected to eight such incidents of explosions. This latest incident was one too many, which we must take all necessary steps to bring to an end.

The importance of gas, and its use in our national economy, requires that we must develop and enforce regulations and practices, and deploy technology to ensure the safe use of gas and safety of our citizens.

In the interim, the President has directed that the following steps be taken to give comfort and ensure the safety of our citizens:

1. Immediate inspection of all gas stations and the vigorous enforcement of existing regulations by the National Petroleum Authority;
2. Review of the current licensing regime to ensure that only those with demonstrable capacity and competence engage in the LPG distribution business;
3. Institution of mandatory training and certification of the staff of Regulators, Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) and LPG Marketing Companies to ensure the safe handling of LPG;
4. Review the safety protocols along the entire value chain through the combined efforts of the Environmental Protection  Agency (EPA), the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Ghana Standards Authority (GSA), National Fire Service (NFS), Town and Country Planning Department of the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation and the Factories Inspectorate Department of the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations;
5. Deployment of a task force, within 30 days, to assess the risk that our current LPG infrastructure poses in terms of public health and safety. High risk stations will be immediately closed down, in accordance with relevant law and without regard to any political or special interests. Low risk stations will be designated for the supply of gas for vehicles with improved safety standards;
6. The immediate incorporation of standards and guidelines developed by Ghana Standards Authority on the handling, storage and distribution of LPG and other petroleum products as technical regulations to strengthen the enforcement regime;
7. The recruitment by NPA of 200 safety auditors to join the staff of the Factories Inspectorate Department of the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations to check regularly on all stations to ensure full compliance with safety standards and practices;
8. Expedition of action by the Fire Service and the Police Service of on-going investigations. Any operator or regulatory official, against whom any act of criminal negligence is established, will face the full rigors of the law;
9. Immediate cessation, until further notice, of all construction of facilities intended for use as gas or petroleum retail stations.

The safety of citizens is the paramount objective of Government, and the President will take all necessary steps to ensure that citizens are safe.

Source: GNA