At this stage, there is no concrete reason to doubt the general safety of gas cylinders, as there does not seem to be a common cause between recent incidents involving gas explosions, a spokesperson for the energy ministry has told The Malta Independent.

Three separate gas explosions have been reported over the past few days.  Last week, a man was found dead at the bottom of a shaft after fire which caused a gas cylinder to explode, engulfing his fourth-floor Msida apartment in flames. On Monday a gas explosion was reported in Paola, while yesterday another was reported in Qawra. 

Asked by this newsroom whether, in light of these incidents, there was cause for concern over the safety of gas cylinders, a ministry spokesperson said that there was no concrete reason to doubt the general safety of the cylinders, adding that the ministry’s responsible entities were in contact with the two major private operators in the LPG sector to gain further information on the aforementioned incidents. The spokesperson also said that a magisterial inquiry into one of the incidents was underway.

Also asked by this newsroom whether these incidents were a cause for concern, the director of the Civil Protection Department, Emanuel Psaila, said that there was some level of concern but that the department had not yet fully established the cause in each case. Psaila noted, however, that there was a lot of awareness surrounding the use of gas cylinders.

The Malta Independent contacted the two major private LPG operators, Liquigas and Easygas, to ask about concerns relating to the safety of gas cylinders and what procedures should be followed when handling them.

A spokesperson for Liquigas specified that all their green and yellow cylinders were automatically tested and sealed with a special heat shrink Liquigas seal, ensuring safety and quality before distribution on the market.

“Customers are being urged to check that the cylinders they are receiving have a Liquigas-branded seal as seen in the attached picture. The Liquigas seal is distinct and can easily be recognised. Furthermore, customers are also urged to ensure that the seal is intact and not tampered with, in order to ensure that they are receiving a cylinder that is properly filled with good-quality gas,” the spokesperson said.

Asked about safety precautions that people should take, the spokesperson emphasised maintenance of gas-powered appliances, changing cylinders outside or indoors away from any source of ignition, having a high-quality regulator and pipe. The regulator should be changed every ten years and the pipe every five years.

Users should also check that there are no leaks between the cylinder valve and the regulator. This can be done by putting soap and water on the joint; soap bubbles will form in case of a leak. If a leak is suspected, the gas should be immediately shut off and the regulator removed.  All doors and windows should be opened for ventilation while it should also be ensured that there is no source of ignition nearby.

A technician should be contacted to examine the gas installation and appliance immediately, the spokesperson said, before adding that Liquigas provides a round-the-clock emergency helpline which can be reached on 2165 1661 – 2 – 3 - 4 – 5 to assist its clients in such cases.

Easygas, meanwhile, had not replied to this newsroom’s questions at the time of writing.

Statement by the Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority and the Regulator for Energy and Water Services

Following three incidents potentially involving gas cylinder during the last few days, both the MCCAA and REWS have immediately started their respective investigations.

Clearly, the respective independent authorities will also follow up on the outcome of a magisterial inquiry which is being carried out in one of the cases, the statement said.

Based on information available so far, the three incidents do not seem to be related. 

Notwithstanding this, both authorities are focusing their attention on the gas supply equipment and systems, namely regulators and gas cylinders.

In this regard, a number of checks are being carried out as follows:

•         checks on regulators and valves starting from documentary checks that indicate that the product in question has undertaken all the necessary compliance checks in line with EU legislation.  These checks are to be backed up with physical product testing which will be carried out in an accredited laboratory.  These test results are usually available in approximately 15 days, subject to the labs’ availability.

•         checks on cylinders need to be in respect to structural integrity and leaks.  New cylinders are certified at point of placing on the market as being in conformity with the relevant standards.  Subsequently, cylinders are recertified with the new valves in place every 10 years.  Documentary checks in relation to the recertification process are carried out on an ongoing basis. Products that do not pass the tests for recertification are destroyed by the supplier.  Additional checks will be carried out with immediate effect both on the quality controls being carried out in the filling plants and on the safety of the cylinders being placed on the market.

The authorities need to emphasise that individuals and companies placing appliances, gas cylinders and regulators on the market, are responsible to ensure that the products conform to all the safety specifications according to legislation.

.......................................................................................

PHOTO CAPTION: Liquigas seals guaranteeing properly filled cylinders with quality LPG