NPA to close down retail outlets for failing to follow rules

The acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Mr Alhassan Tampuli, has warned that the authority will close down all retail outlets that refuse to adhere strictly to rules regarding the correct usage and storage of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) in the country.

He expressed grave concern about how some outlets ignored measures aimed at forestalling accidents, thereby exposing the public to danger.

He said many of the LPG -related accidents could have been avoided if all safety measures were strictly adhered to.

Mr Tampuli disclosed this when the authority began an exercise to educate the public on the correct usage and storage of LPG as part of efforts to ensure the safety of users and the public in general.

The nationwide exercise was as a result of an upsurge of the incidence of gas explosions in recent times in homes, workplaces and LPG dispensing stations with their resultant loss of lives and property.

Some of the locations visited included LPG retail outlets, markets, churches, mosques and residential areas.

Exercise

Mr Tampuli said that the exercise preceded a national launch that would commence soon as a way of intensifying safety and efficient usage and storage of LPG to prevent any misfortune.

He added that the NPA had adopted an approach to enforce all regulations, including indiscriminate siting of gas filling stations in the country while also ensuring that existing ones operate within the needed regulatory framework.

Mr Tampuli indicated that all retail outlets found to have some defects would be asked to suspend operations and correct such defects before they could resume work.

“Any retail outlet which refuses to correct any defect when asked to do so will have its licence revoked by the NPA,” he said.

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A number of retail outlets, according to the acting CEO had been asked to correct defects detected by a team from the NPA during a visit to some regions early this year.

“We are serious about this programme and will not bend the rules to favour anybody,” he indicated.

Mr Tampuli said all new permits would have to go through the necessary safety measures, adding that his outfit was in close collaboration with relevant stakeholders in ensuring adherence to all procedures.

That, he explained, would ensure a coordinated planning and siting of gas retail outlets across the country.