The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) has issued an advisory on the safety features to be observed as one purchases cooking gas cylinders owing to the influx of fake products sold in the black market.
In a video explainer released on Friday, the authority noted that the authenticity of the cylinders could be checked before purchase, including using the soap solution test.
EPRA explained that Kenyans could apply soap solutions such as soapy water to the joints of the gas cylinder to check for potential leaks.
Apart from the gas burner, EPRA expressed that the fabricated joints should be prone to gas leaks, especially those made in the black market.
Should there be a gas leak, one will see bubbles after applying to soap solution.
Notably, this method can also be used to check for leaks in the pipes that connect a cooker and a gas.
On the other hand, Kenyans were also advised to be keen with the numbers usually written on parts of the cylinders to help buyers authenticate the products.
"Given the large black market out there, getting a counterfeit LPG cylinder delivered to you is possible. When buying a cylinder, check out these features to see if it's genuine.
"Please look for the due date of testing, which is marked on the inner side of the cylinder stay plate. Do not accept the cylinder if the due date is over," EPRA advised.
Sometimes, the dates are usually coded with the year and month. The months could be represented by the letter A - D, which is representative of the first quarter. The numbers usually represent the year.
Therefore, an A24 means that the cylinder is due for testing by the first quarter (January - March) 2024.
Other safety features one can also observe when refilling or purchasing include an intact seal.
One is also advised to buy gas from licenced dealers. In case of any concerns, EPRA can be reached on 0709336000.
