Why your gas cylinder in UAE will never be the same again

Gas cylinders in the UAE to be marked with ESMA stamp to ensure safety.

The Emirates Authority for Standardization and Metrology (ESMA) started regulating the Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) manufacturers, refillers and distributors in an effort to control irregular practices in the LPG distribution network.

Speaking to Emirates24|7, a senior official from ESMA said the authority is also planning to standardize LPG gas distribution and is currently talking to various parties involved in the manufacture, refilling and distribution of LPG.

ESMA has already started monitoring the quality of diesel and petrol sold through various petrol stations and has been instrumental in changing the measurement from gallon to liters.

“We have complaints from customers about the LPG suppliers and we are seriously working on putting ESMA mark on gas cylinders distributed to households. Once the regulation is final, each LPG cylinder distributed here will be standardized with an ESMA mark and ensure that the customer gets the quantity of gas mentioned in the cylinder,” said the official.

There are hundreds of LPG distributors in the UAE and some of the employees tamper with the gas cylinders.

According to informed sources, there are some illegal practices plaguing the LPG distribution, and sometimes the use of duplicate cylinders causes explosions and fire. The Public Health and Safety Department of Dubai Municipality has introduced strict guidelines about the storage, distribution of LPG gas for residential and industrial use. These rules specify that the LPG cylinders can be used only for 15 years and each five year, it has to be tested. However, there are occasions when cylinder explosions cause major fire hazard in residential buildings, especially restaurants. LPG cylinders are tested for their specifications and safety features like self-closing systems.

ESMA will have its own surveillance of the market and will work closely with other regulators including the Civil Defence to implement the LPG regulation.

ESMA marked gas cylinders will ensure that the customer is getting the right quality and quantity, according to the ESMA official.

ESMA officials had marathon negotiations with the fuel marketing companies like Adnoc, Enoc/Eppco and Emarat before standardizing oil distribution in the UAE in coordination with the UAE customers, Civil Defence departments and the leading LPG manufacturers and distributors.

For regulating oil and diesel distribution in the UAE, ESMA requires third-party certification for fuel imported into the country. Among its other mandates, ESMA is working to ensure consumer protection and standardization of measurements and calibration. It was due to ESMA initiative that the measurement of diesel and petrol sold through hundreds of petrol stations in the UAE have been converted from gallon to liters.


 

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