The Sunday Mail
Emmanuel Kafe
Some people could literally be sitting on ticking time bombs in their homes.
Rogue dealers are reportedly modifying fire extinguishers and refurbishing damaged or disused old liquid petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders for resale to bargain hunters.
There are fears the tanks could malfunction.
Demand and use of LPG has been rising exponentially due to a combination of expensive electricity tariffs and intermittent power supplies. There seems to be an increased uptake of the sub-standard cylinders, which are often branded and marketed using established brand names, and are relatively cheaper than the originals.
For instance, a sub-standard 2kg cylinder is priced at US$10 while an original version costs more than US$20.
Although enticingly cheap, some customers are beginning to pay a heavy price. March 17 2020 was an ordinary day in the bustling neighbourhood of Tynwald South Park, off Bulawayo Road in Harare West.
As residents went about their daily tasks, out of the blue, the lively environs were rocked by a loud explosion that left people scampering for cover.
“… in no time, there was smoke from a nearby house and four people sustained burns,” recounted an eyewitness.
Apparently, the cylinder that exploded had recently been acquired from the Siyaso area in Mbare.
“The gas tanks had discernible leaks that we would occasionally sense through a faint smell. Out of ignorance we did not take it seriously and continued to use the cylinder without attempting to fix it. But that almost proved to be a fatal mistake on our part,” said Munyaradzi Runodawafa, one of the four victims.
Barely a month before this tragedy, Epworth residents were similarly thrown into panic when a cylinder exploded at Domboramwari Shopping Centre.
The cylinder was being used by artisans for soldering.
Several people were injured and property extensively damaged.
The cylinder in question had been fabricated in the same suburb.
Also, in the same area, days before the 21-day lockdown came into effect, another cylinder exploded, injuring a woman in the neighbourhood.
“It was fairly new. I bought it in Mbare recently,” said the woman.
A gas dealer and two other people escaped death by a whisker when tanks filled with LPG caught fire and exploded in Chinhoyi’s high-density suburb of Chikonohono early this year.
Authorities are trying to clamp down on those trading in the dangerous LPG tanks.
Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (Zera) acting chief executive officer Mr Eddington Mazambani said more than 30 people had been arrested so far.
“Zera, with the help of the police, has so far arrested more than 30 people involved in this illegal trade. Some are yet to appear before the courts while others are already serving jail terms,” he said.
The public, he added, had to be careful when purchasing cylinders.
“Zimbabwe currently does not have a plant that manufactures cylinders. Most of them (cylinders) are imported. Those manufacturing locally are doing so outside the confines of the law.
“We condemn this as they are posing danger to the public. Likewise, we urge those involved in LPG refilling to regularise their operations by acquiring licences.”
Harare City Council says the practice has to stop.
“We are playing our part in safeguarding citizens by enforcing compliance with issues like registering operations by periodically checking for trading licences,” said City of Harare public relations manager Mr Michael Chideme.
But some experts believe that Government needs to be more proactive to nip the potentially damaging practice in the bud.
Renewable energy expert Dr Gibson Mandishona reckons that while the local manufacture of gas cylinders has to be encouraged, this should, however, be within the confines of the law and recommended standards.
“To curb the influx of cylinders with questionable integrity into the country, Government should encourage licensed local traders to manufacture affordable cylinders. Imported cylinders should also be thoroughly checked to ascertain if they meet international standards,” he said.
Meeting the rogue dealers
Right at the heart of Mbare —Siyaso/Magaba — there are hundreds of backyard manufactured cylinders that are ready for the market. The owners speak highly of the fruits of their labour.
“These cylinders have captured a major chunk of the local market as the imported original cylinder manufacturers cannot compete with us on prices,” said Tichaona Chingwena, who refurbishes condemned gas cylinders.
Chingwena is a former employee of a leading South African cylinder manufacturing company. “My cylinders are not in any way sub-standard. I have vast experience in the trade. I can manufacture gas tanks that are as good as those manufactured by established companies.
The good thing is mine are affordable,” he said. “Our inexperienced counterparts who are using scrap metal from drums and fire extinguishers are the ones that are creating cylinders that will later on explode.”
The other manufactures were openly hostile and difficult to engage.
Who is to blame?
Some observers claim that freak incidents involving gas cylinder explosions could have been avoided if regulatory authorities effectively discharged their duties.
Periodic raids by police, council and Zera, they opine, could go a long way in addressing the situation.
It is believed that deterrent measures could also help.
Mr Andrew Wunga, a safety expert, said: “Safety regulations must be strictly enforced and urgency must be placed on getting people deeply educated on gas management before going into the business. Some people in the business have no professional training on how to manufacture cylinders or handle gas refilling, detect gas leakage or manage fire outbreak.
“That type of training is also lacking in homes.” International best practice demands and makes it imperative that safety standards must apply to everyone who installs, alters, maintains or operates gas technologies.
Cylinder explosions can also be due to improper use of the gas furnace or appliance, leakage due to gas lines being hooked up incorrectly and worn-out or rusty gas lines, among other factors.
