NAIROBI, Kenya, June 20 – The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) has proposed formation of joint national-county government teams to implement the zoning of Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and Petroleum facilities.
EPRA Director General Daniel Kiptoo affirmed that the joint teams will oversee surveillance and the enforcement of measures aimed at promoting safety in the sector following a review on land-use approvals allowing construction of residential facilities within industrial zones.
“We ask county governments to collaborate with us in coming up with clear guidelines on exclusive zoning and reservation of land for setting up new petroleum and gas facilities away from densely populated areas,” said Kiptoo EPRA Director General during a sensitisation workshop attended by county energy executives and departmental heads.
The county teams will be mandated by the Authority to take up inspection roles on adherence in order to set standards and public safety requirements on the establishment of LPG facilities.
The Team will also conduct inspection exercises on weights and measures as well as scrutinizing staff qualifications on safety and operations of the facilities.
“For existing facilities, we need counties to collaborate with us in conducting regular inspection exercises to affirm compliance with safety standards and regulations,” he added.
Additionally, counties were urged to actively identify land within the counties for tanker parking yards to avoid drivers from parking in residential areas, the roadside and petrol stations during transit.
The sensitisation workshop was also attended by officials from Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), County Planners Association of Kenya, and National Environment Management Authority (NEMA).
The Authority has been conducting various surveillance and enforcement operations targeting illegal LPG facilities engaged in unauthorized refilling activities warning that Illegally refilled cylinders pose significant safety risks to consumers.
