The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) on Wednesday shut down a gas refilling plant in Industrial Area, Nairobi County.
During the operation, EPRA seized illegally refilled Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinders.
Working in conjunction with EPRA, the Energy Police Unit, arrested the plant owner who is currently waiting to be arraigned in court.
According to EPRA, the plant owner will be charged with three counts of improper handling of LPG cylinders, in violation of the Petroleum Act, No. 2 of 2019.
EPRA disclosed that the plant owner was caught refilling gas cylinders from a different brand without obtaining prior consent from the brand owner, constituting the first offence.
The Authority emphasized that while LPG plants are permitted to refill cylinders from rival brands, this must be done with proper consent, which must be submitted to EPRA.
The second offence, according to EPRA, involves refilling cylinders that are defaced, tampered with, or have illegible markings.
Lastly, the plant owner under investigation will face charges for refilling cylinders that are in need of repair, or requalification, or have been designated as scrapped.
“Members of the public are urged to remain vigilant and to immediately report any suspected instances of malpractice in the petroleum sector to EPRA,” EPRA advised Kenyans.
This was the second plant in a week to be shut down by EPRA for illegally refilling gas cylinders. In the first instance, a company was shut down alongside Mombasa Road after the plant was found concealing an LPG cylinder inside a water tank.
The recent operation is a continuation of EPRA's ongoing crackdown, which commenced in Nairobi in March of this year, targeting illegal gas facilities within the capital.
During this earlier phase of the operation, EPRA had taken action by closing down 21 facilities found to be in violation of established rules and regulations.
In an effort to prevent Kenyans from refilling LPG cylinders at uncertified plants, EPRA encourages the public to consistently request an Electronic Tax Register receipt for every purchase of a refilled LPG cylinder.
