Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has sealed 19 illegal Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) and category D cooking gas outlets in Delta.
The Coordinator, NMDPRA in Delta, Engr. Victor Ohwodiasa said that the illegal gas outlets were sealed within the past two weeks.
He said that they were shut in Orerokpe, Ogwashi-Ukwu, Warri, and its environs in the state.
The category D class of LPG operators are the ones within localities that refill gas from licensed gas plants for customers to pick up from them.
Ohwodiasa said that the illegal gas outlets were shut over offences ranges from lack of prerequisite approvals to operate such facilities and unsafe locations.
“During the operations, about 28 illegal outlets were spotted by the authority. We tried to see if it is possible to have them regularised as they were wrongly cited.
“The outlet that was sealed in Ogwashi-Ukwu was a five metric tonnes refilling plant constructed on a roadside closed to a high tension cables.
“The authority looked at the environment; it was wrongly sited, on a right of way,, and has no approval. It was sealed, and a relocation order was issued immediately.
“Other offenders were the ones doing what we called, “decanting,” meaning bottle-to-bottle transfer. We do not allow that.
“What they are expected to do is “bottle swap”, bring your empty cylinder and go with a filled one,” he said.
The coordinator said that the essence of the exercise was not to frustrate the small-scale gas business owners but to ensure they operate in a safe and secure environment.
Ohwodiasa appealed to landlords not to allocate portions to the LPG category D operators who want to do illegal business on their premises or properties.
According to him, the essence is to prevent possible fire outbreaks that could destroy the lives and properties of the operators and the neighbors.
He said that NMDPRA was committed to ensuring lives and properties were adequately protected.
“Imagine someone storing cooking gas close to where welding operation is taking place or where a woman is frying beans cake or roasting corn. Once there is leakage, the resultant effect will be catastrophic.
“If the operator of the illegal outlet does not appreciate his life, it is our duty to ensure he does not kill himself and others by illegally operating such facility,” he said.
Ohwodiasa said that the regulatory authority would continue to sustain the exercise in the state and assured that anybody found wanting would face the full wrath of the law.
He also said that any offender who refused to relocate his facility would be handed over to the relevant security agencies for prosecution.
The coordinator appealed to the public to report anyone transferring cooking gas from one cylinder to another to the NMDPRA for prompt action, “help us to serve you better”.
Ohwodiasa, while assuring that the regulatory body would continue to sensitise the operators, said that the authority had annual stakeholders engagement with the gas plant owners and the category D operators.
He also said that the regulatory authority organised jingles on Radio and Television stations to educate people on the best ways to handle cooking gas because of its volatility.
The coordinator thanked the Chief Executive of NMDPRA, Engr Ahmed Faruok for his consistent support for the state’s operations.
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