Ministry issues LPG cylinder warning in Myanmar

The Ministry of Energy has warned consumers of the dangers of using illegally imported and non-approved Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinders, a spokesperson said on Monday, December 10.

The spokesperson said most LPG cylinders are legally imported from Thailand by large companies but some non-approved – and unsafe – cylinders are also entering the marketplace, mostly through the Myawaddy border crossing.



“Non-approved cylinders are not safe to use and can explode if they are subjected to extreme heat,” he said.

“Approved cylinders have an automatic safety valve that cuts the supply if something goes wrong but the non-approved cylinders do not,” he said.

“To warn consumers about this issue is our responsibility but controlling illegal trade is the Ministry of Commerce’s responsibility,” he said.

He said some businesspeople import non-approved cylinders and then apply faked approval seals to fool buyers, adding that it is difficult for consumers to spot the difference.

“The Ministry of Energy is happy to grant import licenses for proper LPG importers but this illegal trade is unacceptable,” he added.

However, Ko Naing, an employee of one of the big LPG trading firms, said consumers can spot fakes by looking at the safety bar.

source: The Myanmar Times
http://mmtimes.com/index.php/business/3569-ministry-issues-lpg-cylinder-warning-in-myanmar.html