How NLPGA wants to curb Gas Plant Explosions in Nigeria

Fri, Jan 26, 2018 | By publisher


Oil & Gas

 

The Nigerian Liquefied Petroleum Gas Association wants to partner with government agencies to eliminate gas plant explosion in the country

 

  • By Anayo Ezugwu

 

THE Nigerian Liquefied Petroleum Gas Association, NLPGA,  has called for greater collaboration with agencies of government to eliminate incidents of gas plant explosions in the country.

The Safety and Technical Committee of NLPGA in a communiqué at the end of its emergency meeting in Lagos, stated that the gas plant explosions recorded in 2018 stressed the need to address the three overarching industry objectives, safe handling and best practises in LPG; loss of containment (prevention of gas leaks); and successful disaster management.

“As an association we are at the forefront of championing specific and impactful actions to mitigate incidents and accidents. Central to this is a robust programme to educate all stakeholders along the value chain, which means every participant in the industry from supply side (ship owners and producers), through to demand side (residential and industrial consumers) are educated on the safe handling and use of LPG,” said the committee.

Nuhu Yakubu, deputy president, NLPGA, who presented the communiqué, stated that the committee was  working on programmes to address the three main objectives along specific target groups. He identified the groups to include consumers and end users, industry practitioners and government and regulatory agencies.

The committee listed its efforts to include awareness building and training on the safe storage and use of LPG; education on best practices for installations in homes and high rise buildings and certification programme for installers. The committee also stated that it has engaged in training for truck drivers on the safe loading and unloading of LPG; training for operators, managers and supervisors on the safe operation of plant equipment according to global best practices and training and certification of installers of equipment and piping systems.

“The association through its Safety and Technical Committee has been cooperating with regulatory bodies through: capacity building programmes on disaster management; development of standards and operating guidelines in line with best practices; and campaigns for the elimination of bad practices. The industry holds as its ultimate objective the promotion of the safe use of this exceptional form of energy for the benefit of Nigeria and Nigerians,” the communiqué stated.

This is coming shortly after the Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR, commenced investigation into the recent fire incident in a gas plant in Magodo area of Lagos, which claimed two lives. Mordecai Ladan, director, DPR,  said all parties involved would be invited for interrogation to know the cause of the fire incident and the next line of action.

An inquest into the causes of the gas explosion commence immediately after the inspection and will last for three weeks.

Ladan disclosed that the premises of Second Coming Gas Plant were licensed in 1996 when there was no structure in the area. “There was no structure here when the plant was given licence for operation in 1996. We are saying this to let the people know that the facility had been located here before the residents started building their houses. The whole place was bushy when they started operation, it wasn’t like this before,” he said.

 

 

–  Jan. 26, 2018 @ 16:40 GMT

 

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