Lagos State government has advocated the safe conversion of petrol for domestic use, saying it was committed to ensuring the safety of the lives and properties of its citizens.
Director-General of the Safety Commission, Mr. Lanre Mojola, made this known in a release made available to newsmen, saying that the Babajide Sanwo-Olu Administration was resolved on such with the recent development concerning subsidy removal, which had led to the hike in the pump price of PMS and the resulting discomfort to the citizens, leading to a considerable rise in the conversion of petrol generators in homes and offices to Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) generators.
Mojola stated that powering generators and plants with alternative fuels like LPG or Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) offered several benefits, including
CNG and LPG were generally cheaper than petrol, offering potential cost savings over the long term.
“These fuels are cleaner, and so do not contaminate the air as much as petrol and diesel do. Natural gas and LPG are often more abundant and domestically sourced in certain regions compared to petrol. This can provide greater fuel availability and independence from fluctuations in petrol prices or supply disruptions.
“CNG and LPG combustion generally produce less noise compared to petrol. This results in quieter generator operation, which can be beneficial for residential use and minimize noise pollution,” he declared.
The Safety Commission boss declared that the state government wishes to alert the general public of the safety hazards and risks inherent in the conversion process in the use of these LPG- powered generators at homes and offices.
According to him, the safety hazards include “Spark or heat from the generator can cause fire outbreak if gas leakage occurs from the hose or cylinder valve, Explosion could occur if the generator house is not properly ventilated thereby allowing gas leak build up in enclosed space, LPG is bottled under high pressure with potential for explosions if not properly handled, and Gas cylinders can fall and roll off if not placed on even flooring, saying that when this happened, the gas hose can pull out leading to uncontrolled leakages.
Others are: Corrosion of gas cylinders can occur when left in the rain or in a humid environment, Exposure to direct sunlight can expose cylinders to excessive temperature with the attendant risk of explosion, Poor installation of the hybrid carburetors on generators can increase the risks of accident, CNG should be discouraged for household generating sets except for special cases like large estates with plants for power generation, while “Use of sub-standard, dilapidated or expired cylinders substantially increases risks of gas explosion.”
Also speaking, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Ms. Shola Shasore, said that it was important to note that converting a petrol generator to use alternative and less expensive fuels may require modifications and the installation of appropriate conversion kits by qualified professionals.
She said enjoined the general public to engage only qualified technicians for this service, pointing out that they should contact the Lagos State Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources or Lagos State Safety Commission for guidance on professional vendors and installation as well as appropriate safety guidelines when in doubt.
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