The Nigeria Liquefied Petroleum Gas Association (LPGA )has warned Nigerians to be careful and not patronise unskilled technicians whenever they want to convert their equipment from using petrol to LPG
Using unskilled technicians to convert their petrol appliances or generators to LPG fired could be dangerous, as this could result in serious safety issues.
The association said that the removal of fuel subsidy by the government is in the right direction but that Nigerians must take the issue of safety very seriously so as not to wreck havoc while trying to transit from fuel to gas.
Ladi Falola, deputy president of NLPGA gave this advice on behalf of the association while discussing the Conference slated for November by the group with journalists. He said the gathering is going to be a very important one because of the current conversation around gas as an alternative to fuel.
According to him, a lot of activities have been around the LPG over the last five years, stating further that the association had had sessions on the practicality of the use of LPG for different automobiles, equipment, and machines over the years.
He said: “The conversation has been narrowed down in such a way that the use of gas is not the issue, but the availability of manpower and technicians. The gas is there, the equipment is there, and the conversion kits are there also, but well-trained technicians that could actually convert these equipment for them to use gas and more importantly maintain them over time going forward are in acute supply.
“It is one thing to convert the equipment and machines, and say they are working, you must also know when to service them, when to change the parts, and where to get the parts from. The conferences in the last two to three years have brought the issue of manpower shortage to the front burner, in as much as the gas is available for use.
He said the association took it upon itself to make sure that the product is not only accessible and affordable, but also ensures that it continues to be the safest one that is available as an alternative product to diesel and petrol.
According to Falola, it is one thing for the gas to be cheap, but it is also another thing for the product to be actually safe, and ‘Safety is our watchword in this association.’
He stated that a lot of people don’t understand gas, saying one little gas issue may take us back for a couple of years, adding that this is the reason why the association has taken safety as its watchword.
The group, he said, has worked very closely with different government agencies, and state governments, some of which the group had together set up working committees because it wants to ensure safe use of cooking gas.
He said that the association has learnt that cooperation is the only way to move the sector forward. “All the stakeholders must cooperate together,” he said.
Talking further on the international conference slated for November this year, the president of the association, Felix Ekundayo, said this year’s conference offers opportunities to build relationships with industry participants and gain knowledge of the unique financing, insurance cover and other business-enabling requirements, of the sector
“The Energy Transition is unfolding in Nigeria and the NLPGA as it has done for several years at our past conferences, shared the huge potentials and opportunities that lay with usage of LPG.
Sessons that will be discussed by industry experts include, autogas as Alternative to Fuel Subsidy which is a germane issue in our national discuss currently.Recommendations for Autgas Policy and Rollout, Technology in LPG opportunities for the Youth, Life style Impact and Economic Empowerment of Women as discussed by Women In LpG, Identifying financial incentives for Decade of Gas, Petroleum Industry Act: Multiplier Effects in LPG section, Boosting Revenues
He stated that the sessions will serve as sub themes to further drive home the main theme of the conference, LPG: Bridging the Energy Transition, adding that this is an interesting time in the gas industry, particularly in the country
