Another gas shortage after Litro’s new stock rejected?
15 Dec 2021
Another gas shortage after Litro’s new stock rejected?
15 Dec 2021
SLSI states safety odourant level not up to mark
BY Pamodi Waravita The Sri Lanka Standards Institute (SLSI) has stated that the most recent stock of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) imported by Litro Gas Lanka Ltd. does not meet the standard requirement for the odourant (ethyl mercaptan) level, which is a safety measure that indicates possible gas leaks to consumers, authoritative sources told The Morning yesterday (14), while also warning of a possible LPG shortage as a result. This had been found following tests carried out by the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA), the SLSI, and the Industrial Technology Institute (ITI) on the new imports, as promised by Co-operative Services, Marketing Development, and Consumer Protection State Minister Lasantha Alagiyawanna last week. It is also learnt that an LPG shortage could arise in the country if the latest stock of approximately 3,600 metric tonnes (MT) of LPG is rejected for entry and distribution by the authorities. Alagiyawanna was due to meet with the relevant parties yesterday to discuss possible measures that could be taken. However, The Morning’s attempts to contact Alagiyawanna and the CAA Chairman Maj. Gen. (Retd.) D.M.S. Dissanayaka regarding the matter yesterday proved futile. Meanwhile, media reports show that the CAA has stated that the gas composition of butane and propane of the new stock is within the correct standards. Alagiyawanna said last week that lab tests conducted by the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) on 12 samples of LPG obtained over the last month show a propane composition of 47% and said that he personally believes that this change in composition led to the LPG cylinder-related incidents over the last month. Allegations claim that Litro Gas Lanka had changed the gas composition from the usual 70:30 butane:propane ratio to a dangerous 50:50 ratio, without informing the consumers. However, Litro Gas Lanka has stated that they reject testing done by the CPC laboratories. On Monday (13), a woman succumbed to her injuries, following a week in hospital after a gas-related incident occurred at her residence. Family members of the mother of four have blamed negligence by the authorities for the accident. Litro Gas Lanka yesterday announced a Rs. 1 million insurance programme claimable for damages, bodily harm, or death which can be proven as having occurred due to a manufacturing defect of LPG cylinders.
