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LPG testing labs urged to apply for accreditation

16 Dec 2021

  • No accredited LPG testing labs in the country: SLAB
BY Pamodi Waravita The Sri Lanka Accreditation Board for Conformity Assessment (SLAB) said yesterday (16) that it has requested all labs operating in Sri Lanka to submit their applications for accreditation for the testing of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) as soon as possible, considering the national importance of the ongoing issues related to LPG. “Up to date, there are no labs in Sri Lanka which have been accredited by the SLAB for LPG-related testing. However, considering this national issue, we have invited labs to forward us their applications as soon as possible, so that we can accredit them,” officials at the SLAB told The Morning yesterday. They further said that the applications should come on a voluntary basis. University of Moratuwa Prof. Shantha Walpolage, who is heading the presidential expert committee investigating LPG cylinder-related incidents, said earlier this month that 430 LPG cylinder-related explosions or incidents have occurred from 29 November to 5 December. Last month, the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) tested 12 LPG samples. Co-operative Services, Marketing Development, and Consumer Protection State Minister Lasantha Alagiyawanna said in Parliament last week that CPC tests on market LPG samples have revealed that the propane percentage in the LPG samples was about 47%, which experts have stated is dangerous as the composition should be about 70:30 (butane:propane). However, both Litro Gas Lanka Ltd. and Laugfs Gas PLC have refused to accept the CPC lab results as they claim that CPC labs do not meet the required standards. Furthermore, controversy arose again this week when the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) tested samples of the latest LPG stock imported by Litro Gas Lanka. Tested through a private laboratory, it was found that although the composition was within the proper standard, the odourant level was insufficient. However, Litro Gas Lanka officials raised concerns about this test again on Wednesday (15) as they claim that the tests had been carried out on the samples in vapour form, whereas in liquid form, the odourant level meets the required standard as the ethyl mercaptan concentration in liquid form is almost thrice as that in the vapour form.  


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