The Sunday Mail
THE Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority says it will, in conjunction with councils and the Environmental Management Agency, launch a major crackdown on wholesalers and retailers of liquefied petroleum gas operating on undesignated premises beginning January 2015.
Zera is moving in to regulate the trade and distribution of LPG to enhance public safety. However, while most players have conformed to the regulations, some are still understood to be operating outside the confines of the law.
Zera chief executive officer Engineer Gloria Magombo said from January 2015, they would work with councils and EMA to ensure all operators are working in line with the law.
“(In terms of LPG) they are now filling it in a safer way than what they used to do before. So we are going to work with EMA and the local authorities to ensure that we do that (close down illegal operators) because we feel that we are only going to do that as a joint effort.
“So from January (next year) that is what we expect to do and we have informed all of them,” said Eng Magombo last week.
LPG wholesalers are required to pay US$2 000 and retailers US$100 for two-year licenses.
It is mandatory for all LPG sellers to abide by standards that include ensuring all gas cylinders be registered and all operators be trained by Zera to ensure the safety of individuals and the public.
The Standards Association of Zimbabwe also requires all LPG facilities to be regularly examined by inspection officers following initial certification so that their facilities are a safe distance from public areas, traffic zones and hazardous materials, and must display clear warning signs.
Failure to adhere to the standards can result in persecution and shutting down of the facility.
