cooking gas cylinders of state-owned LP Gas Ltd

Half the cylinders pass expiry dates

Nearly half the cooking gas cylinders of the state-owned LP Gas Ltd, due for scrapping 15 years after their date of manufacture, continue to be in use despite safety hazards. The Independent has found out from various sources that, of the company’s 4,32,000 cylinders, more than 2,00,000 are over 20 years old. According to international norms, 15 years is the standard lifespan of a cooking gas cylinder, beyond which they are scrapped. However, in the absence of a defined LPG policy and guidelines, LP Gas distributors are yet to begin replacing outdated cylinders. Lack of consumer awareness also comes in the way of global standards being followed. The existence of a large number of expired cylinders came to light after nearly 300 cylinders exploded at the LP Gas Ltd depot in northern Bangladesh last Saturday.
LP Gas officials investigating the accident found that the pressure inside the cylinder that triggered the incident in a Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) depot in Bogra was greater than it could withstand. A senior LP Gas official, who was involved in the probe, told The Independent that LP Gas Ltd received gas for bottling from the Eastern Refinery Limited (ERL) and the Rupantorito Prakriotik Gas Company Ltd (RPGCL). The ERL gas has the right proportions of butene and propane for the LP Gas cylinders that can withstand insertion of pressurised gas seven times at the most, said the official with LP Gas Ltd. However, the gas that LP Gas Ltd gets from the RPGCL at its Kailashtila plant has high pressure, requiring eight to nine insertions, thus forcing the cylinder valve to withstand excessive pressure and making it vulnerable to leakage. Petrobangla had been repeatedly told about this issue of high pressure, but no steps have been taken, claimed the LP Gas official.
Protesting against the widespread circulation of expired cylinders, Rajshahi Division LP Gas Distributors’ Association on August 1 this year called for immediate steps to stop the distribution of “date-expired and risky” liquefied petroleum gas cylinders in 16 northern districts. Ahsanur Rashid, the convener of the association, said the LPG cylinders supplied by three state-run oil companies—Padma, Meghna and Jamuna—were vulnerable. He requested the chief inspector of the department of explosives to examine them.
Speaking to The Independent, Fazlur Rahman, general manager of LP Gas Ltd, said the Amendment of LPG Rule 2004 of Bangladesh did not specify the life span of a cylinder to be 15 years. He said, as per the rule, a cylinder is put through a hydro test after a certain period. This involves making a cylinder withstand high water pressure to check its strength. If the cylinder shows no deformation, it is considered fit for the next five years, even if it is 15 years old, said Fazlur Rahman.
Dr Ijaj Hossain, professor of chemical engineering at Bangladesh University of University and Technology (BUET), said every LPG cylinder has a due date for statutory testing for defects. This date is inscribed on one of the three iron plates supporting the cylinder from above. Since many people are unaware of this, cylinders with expired dates go unnoticed, he said. “Cylinders with expired dates are prone to valve leakages that can cause an explosion. Such cylinders can also explode while being transported on delivery vehicles,” he warned. “Think of it like a balloon. If you insert air inside for a number of times, the balloon’s surface begins to wrinkle and thin out, and, eventually, at one stage, it will blow up. The case with cylinders is no different. At one stage after a certain number of pressurised gas insertions, it will blow up if the insertion is not stopped.”

cooking gas cylinders of state-owned LP Gas Ltd

Half the cylinders pass expiry dates

Nearly half the cooking gas cylinders of the state-owned LP Gas Ltd, due for scrapping 15 years after their date of manufacture, continue to be in use despite safety hazards. The Independent has found out from various sources that, of the companys 4,32,000 cylinders, more than 2,00,000 are over 20 years old. According to international norms, 15 years is the standard lifespan of a cooking gas cylinder, beyond which they are scrapped. However, in the absence of a defined LPG policy and guidelines, LP Gas distributors are yet to begin replacing outdated cylinders. Lack of consumer awareness also comes in the way of global standards being followed. The existence of a large number of expired cylinders came to light after nearly 300 cylinders exploded at the LP Gas Ltd depot in northern Bangladesh last Saturday. LP Gas officials investigating the accident found that the pressure inside the cylinder that triggered the incident in a Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) depot in Bogra was greater than it could withstand. A senior LP Gas official, who was involved in the probe, told The Independent that LP Gas Ltd received gas for bottling from the Eastern Refinery Limited (ERL) and the Rupantorito Prakriotik Gas Company Ltd (RPGCL). The ERL gas has the right proportions of butene and propane for the LP Gas cylinders that can withstand insertion of pressurised gas seven times at the most, said the official with LP Gas Ltd. However, the gas that LP Gas Ltd gets from the RPGCL at its Kailashtila plant has high pressure, requiring eight to nine insertions, thus forcing the cylinder valve to withstand excessive pressure and making it vulnerable to leakage. Petrobangla had been repeatedly told about this issue of high pressure, but no steps have been taken, claimed the LP Gas official. Protesting against the widespread circulation of expired cylinders, Rajshahi Division LP Gas Distributors Association on August 1 this year called for immediate steps to stop the distribution of date-expired and risky liquefied petroleum gas cylinders in 16 northern districts. Ahsanur Rashid, the convener of the association, said the LPG cylinders supplied by three state-run oil companiesPadma, Meghna and Jamunawere vulnerable. He requested the chief inspector of the department of explosives to examine them. Speaking to The Independent, Fazlur Rahman, general manager of LP Gas Ltd, said the Amendment of LPG Rule 2004 of Bangladesh did not specify the life span of a cylinder to be 15 years. He said, as per the rule, a cylinder is put through a hydro test after a certain period. This involves making a cylinder withstand high water pressure to check its strength. If the cylinder shows no deformation, it is considered fit for the next five years, even if it is 15 years old, said Fazlur Rahman. Dr Ijaj Hossain, professor of chemical engineering at Bangladesh University of University and Technology (BUET), said every LPG cylinder has a due date for statutory testing for defects. This date is inscribed on one of the three iron plates supporting the cylinder from above. Since many people are unaware of this, cylinders with expired dates go unnoticed, he said. Cylinders with expired dates are prone to valve leakages that can cause an explosion. Such cylinders can also explode while being transported on delivery vehicles, he warned. Think of it like a balloon. If you insert air inside for a number of times, the balloons surface begins to wrinkle and thin out, and, eventually, at one stage, it will blow up. The case with cylinders is no different. At one stage after a certain number of pressurised gas insertions, it will blow up if the insertion is not stopped.