EMA goes after illegal gas traders

The Environmental Management Agency (EMA) has mounted a blitz targeting illegal Liquid
Petroleum (LP) gas traders, who are capitalising on the nationwide power outages.
EMA hopes to minimise accidents related to the trade.

Maxwell Mupotsa, Mashonaland Central EMA Information officer, said the blitz kicked off last week
in Mazowe and Shamva, where 32 illegal sites were fined and closed down.

“The exercise will be in Bindura this week (first week of November), where we have seen these
retailers mushrooming everywhere, some in residential places, which is not allowed,” said Mupotsa.
LP gas retailers should possess a trading licence from the local authority in which they are operating,
a licence from the Environmental Management Agency allowing the trader to handle hazardous
substances, as well as a permit from the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) before
assuming operations.

LP gas retailers have of late multiplied across the country, capitalising on erratic power supplies by
the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC).

Mupotsa said the retailers were cascading their operations down to communal areas and operating
illegally.

He also warned LP gas users to be mindful of their safety everytime they use gas and calling on them
to service their tanks time and again in order to avoid accidents.

A Brockdale family in Bindura died last year after a gas tank leakage caused an explosion.
ZERA is also carrying out the same operation country wide also targeting retailers.

In terms of Petroleum (Liquefied Petroleum Gases) Regulations, Statutory Instrument 57 of 2014,
LPG, wholesale and retail activities can only be conducted under ZERA licence granted to companies
with physical facilities approved by relevant local authorities, fire departments and Environmental
Management Agency(EMA).

Under the LP gas regulations, retailers wishing to obtain or renew licences are required to obtain a
certificate to handle hazardous substances from EMA.

Mupotsa, said the agency was periodically conducting routine compliance inspections and raids to
ensure compliance.

He urged members of the public to alert EMA and other law-enforcement agencies if they suspect LP
gas or any other hazardous substance being sold without a licence.

“This is done to ensure safety of the public and to protect the environment,” he explained.
According to Statutory Instrument 268 of 2018, transportation, storage, sale and use of hazardous
substances should be done under a licence from ZERA.

According to ZERA, the country has over 40 licensed LP gas wholesalers, at least 750 licensed
retailers while over 4000 LP gas fillers received proper trainin in filling methods. Some15 LP gas
installers have been registered so far.