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No SLSI standard for gas cylinder composition

30 Nov 2021

 
  • Alagiyawanna says butane and propane percentages not considered
  • States only cylinder pressure gets checked
  • SLSI commences standards update 
  BY Pamodi Waravita With the gas cylinder composition being blamed for the series of gas cylinder explosions around the country this month, the Government revealed yesterday (29) that the compositional ratio of butane and propane in a gas cylinder is not considered at present when the standards of a gas cylinder are determined by the Sri Lanka Standards Institute (SLSI). Speaking in Parliament, Co-operative Services, Marketing Development, and Consumer Protection State Minister Lasantha Alagiyawanna said that the SLSI considers gas cylinder pressure as its main measurement. “The measurements for the standards of gas were first declared by the SLSI in 1998. At the time, the SLSI made no mention of the composition of butane and propane present within a cylinder. The main measurement that they declared to measure the standard of a gas cylinder is its pressure. That is the marker by which we measure the standard of gas in the market to this day,” said Alagiyawanna in Parliament yesterday. He admitted that there are “shortcomings” in the current standards put forth by the SLSI, which has led the Co-operative Services, Marketing Development and Consumer Protection State Ministry to urge the SLSI to update their measurements of the standards and quality of gas in the market. “The SLSI has started this process now and have completed their public hearings as well. We have also asked the expert committee tasked with this process to consider the current opinions on how the standard and quality of gas should be measured.” He noted that although Sri Lanka has been involved in circulating gas in the market since the 1960s, gas has still not been regulated properly. “Although different government institutions are tasked with regulating certain aspects of gas, this has not been done properly. The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) also has a certain amount of responsibility in the matter, but we must admit that we have not been 100% committed to this task,” he added. During this month, several gas cylinder explosions have been reported at both industrial commercial establishments as well as at the domestic household level, including two restaurants in Weligama and Colombo 7 as well as a bakery in Ratnapura. Yesterday alone, three explosions were reported from Arachchikattuwa, Kegalle, and Hatton. Last Saturday (27), Opposition and Samagi Jana Balawegeya (SJB) Leader Sajith Premadasa said that former CAA Executive Director Thushan Gunawardena had alleged that the propane-to-butane ratio in gas cylinders had been changed to 50:50, while energy expert Nimal De Silva has said that by making the ratio 50:50, the pressure would change and lead to gas cylinder explosions. Former CAA Executive Director Thushan Gunawardena told The Morning earlier this year that test samples from the 18 litre gas cylinder and 12.5 kg gas cylinder of both Litro Gas Lanka and Laugfs Gas have found that they contain a 50:50 composition of butane and propane. “This is dangerous for domestic use and we are therefore concerned about the safety of the public. The usual composition is 80% butane and 20% propane. We have informed the relevant ministries regarding the matter,” Gunawardena told The Morning at the time. The 18 litre gas cylinder was then removed from market circulation by Litro Gas Lanka. Gunawardena, speaking to the media recently, has blamed the gas companies for the recent explosions in kitchens. However, speaking to The Morning last week, Litro Gas Lanka Ltd. Chairman Theshara Jayasinghe assured that the composition of gas in the cylinders has not been changed in an unsafe manner, adding: “The composition is 30% propane and 70% butane. We are strictly in compliance with the SLSI.” Meanwhile, Laugfs Gas PLC Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Chaminda Ediriwickrama told The Morning that there is no relationship between the product composition and the incidents of the recent explosions.  

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