Petroleum and liquid petroleum gas (LPG) retail outlets in Africa are set for special quality audits due to rising concerns about safety practices by some operators.
The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (Epra) has announced that the audit will involve technical safety checks and the creation of an inventory of all petroleum and LPG retail outlets1.
The purpose of this assignment is to ensure that Epra collects all the requisite data, including compliance status for petroleum and autogas retail stations and consumer sites.
This will help enforce conformity to set standards and codes, ensuring the protection of the environment and safety for the general public. The scope of the assignment includes scheduled physical visits to over 4,300 petroleum retail stations and consumer sites in Kenya.
Over the years, there has been a rapid growth in the number of small and independent petroleum and LPG outlets in Kenya since the liberalization of the sub-sector in 1994. While this has yielded economic benefits, it has also presented public and environmental safety challenges.
Many fuel retail stations operate without the requisite regulatory approvals, lacking construction permits or operational licenses as required by law. Additionally, the increased use of LPG for internal combustion engines (autogas) necessitates identifying their locations and providing this information to potential users.
Epra’s recent compliance check between July and December 2023 revealed that only 65.3 percent of 18 LPG storage and filling stations met the safety threshold. The authority conducted inspections on wholesale and retail sites, bulk LPG road tankers, and LPG storage and filling plants, with varying compliance levels.
Ensuring safety standards in the petroleum and LPG retail sector is crucial for protecting both consumers and the environment.
Original story at Epra to audit 4,300 fuel, LPG retailers on safety fears - Business Daily (businessdailyafrica.com)
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