Stakeholders raising awareness on safe LPG use

Published On: July 5, 2016 02:40 AM NPT By: Republica  | @RepublicaNepal


KATHMANDU, July 5: Albeit late, stakeholders have started showing concern on security issues attached to Liquefied Petroleum (LP) gas cylinder.

After a recent explosion of HP gas cylinder which claimed three lives, stakeholders have started raising awareness on safe use of LP gas cylinders.

While gas dealers have begun nationwide campaign to raise awareness about safety issues while using LP gas, lawmakers have called on the government to take action against bottlers compromising on quality and assure consumers that the cylinder in their kitchen is safe.

The parliamentary committee on Industry, Commerce and Consumer Welfare Protection on Monday held a discussion with Minister of Supplies Ganesh Man Pun and chief of Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) Gopal Bahadur Khadka on issues related cooking gas cylinder. The committee's next meeting scheduled for Tuesday is expected to take a concrete decision and issue needful directions to the government.

LPG dealers have begun a nationwide campaign to inform consumers about safety measures to be adopted while using LPG cylinder. “People dying because of LP gas cylinder is very unfortunate and sad. That is why we have started nationwide campaign using our distribution network so that consumers handle cylinders properly and adopt necessary safety measures,” Chandra Thapa, general secretary of Gas Dealers Federation Nepal, said.

Gas bottlers, however, are not ready to accept that they are circulating substandard cylinders in the market.

Meanwhile, consumer right activists have urged the government to act tough against bottlers who have been sending substandard cylinders in the market. “Albeit late, this sensitive issue has drawn the attention of the government as well as gas dealers and bottlers. The government has to deal with the issue seriously as it is directly related to people's lives.

MoFA's help sought to facilitate petro trade with China

The plan to import petroleum products from China seems to have revived again.

Ministry of Commerce (MoC) has sent a study report related to import of petroleum products from China to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Speaking at the Industry, Commerce and Consumer Welfare Committee of the parliament, Ministry of Supplies Ganesh Man Pun said that they have forwarded a study report on petroleum import to the foreign ministry, requesting the latter to facilitate the import process. “Discussion on the issue will now be held at the diplomatic channel as the issues related to tax and transportation are still unclear in the report,”

The government last year signed an agreement with China to import 33 percent of country's total petroleum demand from China.


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