At this stage, there is no concrete reason to doubt the general safety of gas cylinders, as there does not seem to be a common cause between recent incidents involving gas explosions, a spokesperson for the energy ministry has told The Malta Independent.
Three separate gas explosions have been reported over the past few days. Last week, a man was found dead at the bottom of a shaft after fire which caused a gas cylinder to explode, engulfing his fourth-floor Msida apartment in flames. On Monday a gas explosion was reported in Paola, while yesterday another was reported in Qawra.
Asked by this newsroom whether, in light of these incidents, there was cause for concern over the safety of gas cylinders, a ministry spokesperson said that there was no concrete reason to doubt the general safety of the cylinders, adding that the ministry's responsible entities were in contact with the two major private operators in the LPG sector to gain further information on the aforementioned incidents. The spokesperson also said that a magisterial inquiry into one of the incidents was underway.
Also asked by this newsroom whether these incidents were a cause for concern, the director of the Civil Protection Department, Emanuel Psaila, said that there was some level of concern but that the department had not yet fully established the cause in each case. Psaila noted, however, that there was a lot of awareness surrounding the use of gas cylinders.
The Malta Independent contacted the two major private LPG operators, Liquigas and Easygas, to ask about concerns relating to the safety of gas cylinders and what procedures should be followed when handling them.
A spokesperson for Liquigas specified that all their green and yellow cylinders were automatically tested and sealed with a special heat shrink Liquigas seal, ensuring safety and quality before distribution on the market.
"Customers are being urged to check that the cylinders they are receiving have a Liquigas-branded seal as seen in the attached picture. The Liquigas seal is distinct and can easily be recognised. Furthermore, customers are also urged to ensure that the seal is intact and not tampered with, in order to ensure that they are receiving a cylinder that is properly filled with good-quality gas," the spokesperson said.
Asked about safety precautions that people should take, the spokesperson emphasised maintenance of gas-powered appliances, changing cylinders outside or indoors away from any source of ignition, having a high-quality regulator and pipe. The regulator should be changed every ten years and the pipe every five years.
Users should also check that there are no leaks between the cylinder valve and the regulator. This can be done by putting soap and water on the joint; soap bubbles will form in case of a leak. If a leak is suspected, the gas should be immediately shut off and the regulator removed. All doors and windows should be opened for ventilation while it should also be ensured that there is no source of ignition nearby.
A technician should be contacted to examine the gas installation and appliance immediately, the spokesperson said, before adding that Liquigas provides a round-the-clock emergency helpline which can be reached on 2165 1661 – 2 – 3 - 4 – 5 to assist its clients in such cases.
Easygas, meanwhile, had not replied to this newsroom's questions at the time of writing.
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PHOTO CAPTION: Liquigas seals guaranteeing properly filled cylinders with quality LPG
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