Ksh.10M fine or 5yr-jail term for selling gas cylinders of another brand without consent

Retailers, wholesalers and transporters who handle gas cylinders of another brand without consent will face a fine of not less that Ksh. 10million or imprisonment of not less than five years or both.

In a notice published in the local dailies on Wednesday, the Energy & Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) said violating the rules may also lead to withdrawal of operating license.

“The sanctions are provided for the above listed offences under Section 99 (1) of the Petroleum Act 2019 and the Petroleum (Liquified Petroleum Gas) Regulations 2019,” the notice reads.

The move follows what EPRA termed as increased public safety concerns on the use, distribution, retail and transportation of LPG cylinders.

In June this year, the authority said LPG cylinder brand owners should only accept tanks that they own for refills or maintenance.

The move was to help counter illegal refilling and unauthorised rebranding.

“This will enhance cost efficiency in the cylinder exchange system and thus improve LPG distribution,” EPRA Director General Pavel Oimeke said.

The authority further tasked brand owners with ensuring that LPG cylinders are insured.

In case of an incident attributable to the cylinder, the consumer can be compensated through the insurance.