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GNBS: New standards for cooking gas coming following explosions
Kaieteur News-The Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS), in collaboration with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA), the Guyana Fire Service (GFS), the Competition and Consumer Affairs Commission (CCAC), and the Ministry of Labour’s Occupational Safety and Health Department (OSH), will soon introduce new standards for cooking gas products.
EPA officers conducting a review of Massy Gas Products
The move to introduce the new standards come in response to increasing concerns over gas cylinder-related explosions which have resulted in two deaths recently.
The GNBS in response to questions posed by Kaieteur News said the applicable standards are being reviewed by stakeholders.
“The need for new standards to be adopted/developed was discussed and proposed,” the agency stated.
GNBS outlined that there are three existing standards currently under review: GYS 264: 2021, which pertains to the specification for the storage, handling, and transportation of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinders; GYS 453: 2021, which focuses on steel compressed gas cylinders; and GYS 523: 2018, related to low pressure regulators used with LPG.
Additionally, GNBS said that apart from reviewing the three existing standards which focus on cylinders and regulators, “There are plans to introduce standards to cover hose and clamps which are auxiliary items that facilitate the connection from the cylinder to stove.”
The company explained that the revision process for these standards involves establishing a Technical Committee to consult with stakeholders, including suppliers, enforcement agencies, and other interested parties that will finalize the revised documents.
A meeting was held amongst the stakeholders on February 13, 2025 and the next meeting is set for March 6,2025.
Meanwhile, when asked about the initial findings into the incidents, GNBS said, “This matter is currently under review by the Inter-Agency group and the findings will be disclosed upon completion.”
To date, the inter-agency groups have received five complaints related to gas bottle explosions.
There has been significant damage to property and loss of life due to the gas bottle explosions. As a result of the incidents, in January the EPA and other government agencies conducted investigations and a three-day- audit into Massy Gas Products, a company whose gas cylinders were allegedly linked to some of the explosions.
Massy Gas Products has consistently denied any wrongdoing, stating that the company is not at fault for the incidents. In February, the EPA said that further investigations will continue into the matter at both the retail and consumer levels.
In a statement to the media, the EPA said that it will continue to work with stakeholders to determine the main causes of the explosions.
“As part of the most recent meeting, the group examined interim reports from the respective agencies and agreed to conduct further detailed investigations at the retailer and consumer levels, including matters related to transportation, storage, and use of the cylinders,” the statement said.
The EPA said that each explosion will be treated individually to determine its cause, and preventative measures will be put in place.
The next phase of the investigation will be spearheaded by the GNBS and CCAC, with support from the GFS, EPA, GEA, and OSH Department.
The agencies are also sharing their reports, findings, and recommendations to prepare a comprehensive action plan that will outline safety measures for suppliers, vendors, and consumers.
The initial findings from the investigations into the gas explosions are yet to be released.
(GNBS: New standards for cooking gas coming following explosions)
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