24 Feb 2019

The regulation of Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) is overdue and the development of the regulation will assist in regulatory matters under the LPG sub-sector. 

This was said by chief energy engineer in the Ministry of Mineral Resources, Green Technology and Energy Security, Mr Baruti Regoeng in an interview on the sidelines of a workshop hosted by Botswana Energy Regulatory Authority (BERA) to deliberate on the regulation of LPG.

Mr Regoeng noted that the LPG industry had not been regulated despite the standards and specifications developed in collaboration with Botswana Bureau of Standards. 

He said there have been challenges with enforcing the standards, especially those dealing with safety and security. 

“As a result there has been the need to develop this regulation to foster the effective regulation of the sector,” he said.

He said the regulation would go a long way in helping the industry to deal with regulatory issues in terms of the industry operations, product price regulations and any other issues relevant to the effective and competent operation of the sector in doing business. 

As a ministry, Mr Regoeng said they looked forward to the development of the regulation, adding that the workshop would help in ensuring mandatory regulation, as the sector has been operating voluntarily. 

Parallel to this, Mr Regoeng said there was also the development of the Petroleum Product Act which, he said, was one of the key aspects to mention, adding that together with the LPG regulation, they would have brought the oil and gas industry to control. 

Competition Authority investigations and research manager, Mr Ernest Bagopi said the LPG industry had not been regulated despite challenges that were in place for the consumers and suppliers.

“The Competition Authority has done an LPG research study that indicates some factors which need to be addressed regarding the LPG industry. Therefore, the regulation of LPG by BERA is a welcome development to the gas industry,” he said.

BERA engineering manager, Mr Gift Bakhumbi said they would ensure that the regulations provided economic and regulation efficiency, secure and sustainable supplies as well as balancing the interest of consumers and licensees. 

Mr Bakhumbi said their aim was for stakeholders and industry players to own the regulation, hence engaging them in a consultative workshop. 

For his part, Tswana Gas operations manager, Mr Mike Kerekang said as there had been no regulations, there had been high risks in the use and handling of gas. He noted that many operated in risky places and sometimes had no idea how to handle and store the gas consequently putting people’ lives in danger. Mr Kerekang said the regulation would ensure proper use of gas and fewer risks on the handling of it. ENDS