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By Charumini de Silva
The Government has authorised Sri Lanka Standard Institution (SLSI) to regulate quality of Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG), cylinder valves, regulators and equipment via an Extraordinary Gazette – No. 2262/16 of 11 January.
Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa issued the Extraordinary Gazette in terms of the powers vested in him by Section 20, read together with Sub-Section 4(1), Section 14 of the Imports and Exports (Control) Act, No.1 of 1969 as amended by Act No. 48 of 1985 and Act No. 28 of 1987.
As per the regulations titled ‘Imports and Exports (Standardisation and Quality Control) Regulations No. 01 of 2022. These regulations will come into effect from 12 January 2022, and it includes Serial No. 126 to 129 of Schedule III. The items include LPG with SLSI 712 specification, hose and hose assembly for LPG with SLS 1172 specification, valve fittings for use with LPG in line with SLS 1184 specification and pressure regulator and automatic LPG converter with SLS 1180 specification.
Meanwhile, SLSI has called for International Competitive Bidding (ICB) for supply, delivery, installation, commissioning and to provide training of Gas Chromatography (GC) based LPG analyser. Prospective bidders can submit their proposals to SLSI’s Department Procurement Committee (Minor Contracts) on or before 8 February 2022.
Appointing a regulatory body for LPG was a recommendation by the expert committee appointed by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to probe the incidents related to gas.
Accordingly, companies will now have to submit an application to SLSI seeking permission to import LPG and related accessories, whilst obtaining a standard certificate prior to releasing the consignment from the Customs.
The Government believes these measures will help to mitigate the entry of substandard LPG and related equipment to the country.
The eight-member expert committee prepared the final report which was handed over to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa after investigations carried out in 11 institutions, including the on-site inspections and inquiries conducted on country’s two LPG companies – Litro Gas Ltd. and LAUGFS Gas PLC – as well as inspection of 17 places where fires and explosions occurred, and considering the views received by e-mail.
Short, medium and long-term recommendations were made in relation to regulation and distribution. In addition, the committee gave specific advice to the State-owned Litro Gas, whilst recommending a common guideline for both Litro and LAUGFS Gas.
The committee was chaired by University of Moratuwa Prof. Shantha Walpola, while the other members include Senior DIG Deshabandu Tennakoon, University of Moratuwa Prof. Ajith De Alwis, University of Sri Jayewardenepura Prof. W.D.W. Jayathilaka, Prof. Pradeep Jayaweera, Sri Lanka Inventors Commission Commissioner Prof. Narayan Sirimuthu, Additional Director General of the Technical Services Dr. Sudarshana Somasiri, and SLSI Senior Deputy Director Sujeewa Mahagama.
