roadBlockAd
brand logo

Litro to ensure sufficient LPG supply 

28 Dec 2021

 
  • Says immediate measures taken to satisfy national demand 
  • Blames sluggish process on recalling old stock, removing LPG contained therein 
  • Firewood purchasers in Colombo pay Rs. 25 for five pieces 
  BY Pamodi Waravita Litro Gas Lanka Ltd. said on Monday (27) that it has taken all immediate measures to ensure that there is a sufficient supply of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders to fulfil both the domestic and commercial demand in the market, following rising complaints by consumers about the unavailability of Litro Gas Lanka LPG cylinders in the market. In a statement issued to the press on Monday, Litro Gas Lanka said that two ships have already been unloaded to fulfil the daily need for LPG in the country. “About 30,000 to 40,000 LPG cylinders, each with a capacity of 12.5 kilos (kg), are distributed to the market every day. All of these cylinders meet the standards of the Sri Lanka Standards Institute (SLSI) and the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA),” assured the company. Following Western Province Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police Deshabandu Tennakoon’s statement last week that over 800 domestic LPG cylinder-related incidents were reported this year, with seven deaths and 16 injuries, the Presidential Expert Committee appointed to investigate the recent LPG-related explosions blamed the increase in the propane ratio for the explosions. Earlier this month, the CAA ordered both Litro Gas Lanka and Laugfs Gas PLC to recall all sealed cylinders in the market, distributed before 4 December. “A large amount of time is currently being spent on collecting the blue and black cylinders that the company distributed to the market previously and removing the LPG contained within them. That is why the current process of the distribution of new stocks has been temporarily slowed down. To combat this issue, the company will bring down technical equipment necessary to speed up this process,” said Litro Gas Lanka in its statement. The most immediate recommendations made by the Presidential Expert Committee were to keep the propane percentage to less than 30% and to increase the level of the odourant ethyl mercaptan in the cylinders so that a gas leak is more easily detectable. Therefore, Ministry of Technology Secretary and the Co-ordinator of the Presidential Committee appointed to investigate LPG-related incidents Jayantha De Silva said that from the three ships carrying new stocks of LPG to Litro Gas Lanka last week, two were completely cleared for distribution whilst one has not been permitted to unload its stocks as the ethyl mercaptan odourant level in them does not meet the required standard. Reports show that due to the current LPG shortage in the market, prices of kerosene cookers and induction heat (IH) cookers have increased exponentially, with consumers clamouring to find solutions to their cooking problems. Some consumers in the Colombo District told The Morning this week that they had bought five pieces of firewood at Rs. 25.


More News..