News Just in: Gov’t again Changes Tune on cause of Embakasi gas explosion.
News Just in: Gov’t again Changes Tune on cause of Embakasi gas explosion: The government now says the Thursday night blast at a Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) plant in Nairobi’s Embakasi area was caused by incorrect refilling of the cylinders.
In a joint statement, Energy Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir and his Interior counterpart Prof. Kithure Kindiki, disclosed that the gas cylinders were refilled using direct manifold connections to the LPG tanker.
The statement read,”Preliminary findings indicate that on the fateful night, the refilling of LPG cylinders was done using direct manifold connections to the LPG tanker increasing the risk of leakage and explosion,”
Due to this, The government will now embark on demolishing any illegal gas storage and filling plants across the country among a raft of new measures to be implemented in order to curb similar future tragedies.
CSs Chirchir and Kindiki revealed that at least three permit applications (March 19, June 20, and July 31) to construct a gas plant at the fatal site in Embakasi last year were all rejected by EPRA.
The statement read,”Twice, in March 2020 and January 2021, the plant that was illegally constructed at the said location was demolished by EPRA and the operators charged in Court.”
Notably, The government is expected to immediately roll out an LPG growth strategy which includes development and implementation of a track and trace framework for gas cylinders in order to improve traceability and accountability.
Also read Interior CS Kindiki Issues 6 directives to LPG gas traders