The Lagos State Government is calling on residents to be safety conscious in the process of converting petrol to Gas for domestic use.
The call follows the recent removal of subsidy payments on petrol in the country, which has led to a hike in the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, and pushed many Nigerians to explore new ways of powering their generators by converting petrol power generating sets to Liquefied Petroleum Gas, LPG generators.
The Director General, Lagos Safety Commission, Mr. Lanre Mojola, mentioned that the Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration is committed to ensure safety of lives and properties of its citizens and will leave nothing to chance to intensify advocacy in that regard.
He stated that powering generators and plants with alternative fuels like Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) or Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) offer several benefits.
According to him “CNG and LPG are generally cheaper than petrol, offering potential cost savings over the long term. These fuels are cleaner, and so do not contaminate the air as much as petrol and diesel do Natural gas and LPG are often more abundant and domestically sourced in certain regions compared to petrol. This can provide greater fuel availability and independence from fluctuations in petrol prices or supply disruptions.
“CNG and LPG combustion generally produce less noise compared to petrol. This results in quieter generator operation, which can be beneficial for residential use and minimize noise pollution.”
He declared that the Lagos State Government would continue to alert the general public of the safety hazards and risks inherent in the conversion process in the use of these LPG- powered generators at homes and offices.
He said “Spark or heat from the generator can cause fire outbreak if gas leakage occurs from the hose or cylinder valve and explosion could also occur if the generator house is not properly ventilated thereby allowing gas leak build up in enclosed space.”
“LPG is bottled under high pressure with potential for explosions if not properly handled.Gas cylinders can fall and roll off if not placed on even flooring. When this happens, the gas hose can pull out leading to uncontrolled leakages and corrosion of gas cylinders can occur also when left in the rain or in humid environment.”
“Exposure to direct sunlight can expose cylinders to excessive temperature with attendant risk of explosion while poor installation of the hybrid carburettors on generators can as well increase the risks of accident. In other words, CNG should be discouraged for household generating sets except for special cases like large estates with plants for power generation.”
He maintained that the use of sub-standard, dilapidated or expired cylinders could increase risks of gas explosion.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Ms Shola Shasore stressed that it is important to note that converting a petrol generator to use alternative and less expensive fuels may require modifications and the installation of appropriate conversion kits by qualified professionals.
Shasore said the general public is hereby advised to engage ONLY qualified technicians for this service.
She however advised the public to contact the Lagos State Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources or Lagos State Safety Commission for guidance on professional vendors and installation as well as appropriate safety guidelines
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