EPRA responds to LPG gas explosion in Embakasi

The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) has responded to the LPG gas explosion In Mradi Area, Embakasi which has claimed three lives and injured over 200 people.

In the wake of the incident, Kenyans on X (formerly Twitter) raised concerns about why an LPG gas facility was allowed to operate in a residential area.

Following the inferno incident, EPRA has revealed the following.

• Applications for construction permits for a Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) storage and filling plant at the site were received by EPRA on March 19, June 20, and July 31, 2023.
• All applications were rejected as they did not meet the set criteria for an LPG storage and filling plant in that area.
• The main reason for the rejection was the failure of the designs to meet the safety distances stipulated in the Kenya Standard.
• EPRA noted the high population density around the proposed site and the applicant was requested to submit a Qualitative Risk Assessment clearly indicating the radiation blast profiles in the unfortunate case of an explosion like the one that happened yesterday.
• The blast profiles are simulated by use of computer software and indicate the effect of a typical blast in terms of heat radiation and tremour or vibration and are useful in reviewing the safety of the surrounding areas.
• The applicant never provided the requested QRA resulting in the rejection of the applications.
• Email correspondences providing reasons for the rejection were sent to the applicant.

How does EPRA ensure LPG safety?

According to EPRA, it has formulated short and medium-term measures to ensure the safety of all LPG plants in the country.

The measures include actions like doing detailed technical audits of all licensed LPG plants in the country to ensure high safety status in terms of Health, Safety, Security, and Environment (HSSE).

The authority also ensures that operating licenses for all plants rated below the high safety status are revoked.

Surveillance and enforcement are also done including demolishing illegal plants operating across the country and curbing malpractice in the sector.

Even though EPRA emailed the applicant reasons why the construction of their LPG facility in Embakasi was not approved, it has not explained whether it followed up to ensure that the plant was not set up.