Christian Peregin
Safety fears grow as ‘illegal’ gas cylinders are uncovered
Authorities will not say what sort of action they are taking
A number of illegal gas cylinders have been found on the market, according to the consumer watchdog, which, however, would not say what action it has taken.
Meanwhile, the police have confirmed they are carrying out an investigation into illegal practices concerning gas cylinders but refused to divulge any details.
“A number of cylinders were found on the market which do not comply with the legal requirements. Action has been taken with the operators to ensure that all cylinders on the market conform to legal requirements,” the Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Association said yesterday.
No details were given about the number of cylinders or the type of action carried out. Nor did the MCCAA say to which operator the non-compliant cylinders belonged.
“Investigations are still underway on cylinders from both economic operators,” the MCCAA said, when asked for more information.
The Times yesterday reported that the MCCAA was carrying out an investigation following allegations made by Liquigas that Easygas was misappropriating old Enemalta cylinders, exporting them to Italy for modification and selling them in Malta without the necessary requirements. Easygas admitted sending the cylinders to Italy but claimed this was only being done for storage purposes.
The consumer watchdog says customers should ensure that the gas cylinders they buy have a serial number “stamped or indelibly marked” on them, normally on the shroud around the valve or the cylinder’s body. “Serial numbers are important because they lead to the history of the cylinder including when the cylinder was manufactured, tested and due for retesting.”
‘Cylinder without a serial number is as good as scrap metal’
“A cylinder without a serial number is not traceable to any certificate and, therefore, its integrity and soundness cannot be confirmed,” the MCCAA said.
All cylinders are also required to have the contact details of the company distributing them and a telephone number which customers can call if the need arises, according to the MCCAA.
The authority added that it began investigating the matter mid-last month, “immediately” after it received reports about the cylinders.
Meanwhile, the Malta Resources Authority, which said it had initiated the investigation and was coordinating efforts with the MCCAA about the matter, said it has no reason to believe that cylinders were being filled at non-licensed areas.
This raises questions about the way gas cylinders are processed and screened before being filled and placed on the market.
The Consumers Association pointed out that, due to their hazardous nature, gas cylinders had specific regulations ensuring safe storage and distribution.
“We have to bear in mind that gas cylinders end up in homes of thousands of consumers which explains why safety is of utmost importance,” president Benny Borg Bonello said. “Our association expects the regulators to continue monitoring the cylinders on the market, inform consumers where to report suspected faulty cylinders and keep consumers informed of what action they are taking to ensure that all gas cylinders placed on the market are safe for use by consumers.”
Liquigas pointed out that cylinders which do not carry a serial number constitute a hazard to safety at homes and during transportation.
“Without a serial number, there can be no effective and reliable traceability of each and every cylinder.
“This is a basic safety consideration as this is the only way by which both consumers and authorities can ascertain that the cylinder was manufactured and maintained up to the required standards. The directives stipulate that a cylinder without a serial number cannot be filled or sold – it is only good as scrap steel.
“All Liquigas cylinders have serial numbers and therefore are covered by insurance,” a spokesman for the company said, urging customers to always ensure their cylinders carry a serial number.
Easygas has not yet replied to questions sent by The Times yesterday afternoon.
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VINCENT WILLIAMS
Nov 3rd 2011, 13:41
As this is a very serious and dangerous matter sincerely hope that all the Authorities concern including the Government to continue to investigate and keep the public informed.
Sandro Pace
Nov 3rd 2011, 13:01
The authority, the relevant ministry, and moreso the operator are held responsible should any serious things happen by these 'illegal' cylinders. It is good that action is being taken, and no stone should be left unturned to ascertain 100% safety.
Ms.D. Galea
Nov 3rd 2011, 11:48
can the authority in charge send flyers in very household to inform them on what to look for when checking serial numbers etc on their gas cylinders, or do we first have see a tragedy occuring in some appartment in a high rise bulding before doing anything?
j brincat
Nov 3rd 2011, 10:55
TOM, a couple of weeks ago reported that the faulty regulators are being replaced.
Mine hasn't todate!
How do you go about it?
Where are consumers' associations? Dormant?
(jb)
JOSEPH TANTI
Nov 3rd 2011, 13:52
I agree with j brincat. We have also received a magazine which guides the consumer on certain faulty connectors. May I ask, where and how are we able to change these faulty regulators, who is responsible to change them for us please? Any help is greatly appreciated.
Christian Abdilla
Nov 3rd 2011, 15:01
Around the end of September, Liquigas had issued a press release informing customers who had the original green regulator found to be not up to standard that they can go and exchange it for the new updated one. I exchange mine at Qajjenza but probably the gas distributors can exchange it as well (unless they are on strike of course :) )
J.C. Borg
Nov 3rd 2011, 10:50
When are reporters going to learn that while things are being investigated it will not be wise to issue any information?????????
These common words, such as 'keeping mum, keeping under wraps and keeping the card close to their chest' should only be used when appropriate.
Anton Mangion
Nov 3rd 2011, 10:39
Oh, it seems that the issue is now changing in favour of Liquigas, who have shown their professionality in the operations. Cylinder certification is an imperative quality assurance step in ensuring the safety of cylinders themselves....it is not a financially cheap operation and MUST be done regularly. You do not certify a cylinder once!! Most probably it has to be done every 5 years at least and on each and every cylinder. Hence the markings, these are the fingerprints of each unique cylinder. It is even more important here in Malta, because of the way cylinders are handled or mis-used. Does this mean that someone in the business is bypassing this? Here the consumer is at a serious risk!!
Vince Cachia
Nov 3rd 2011, 10:35
Does anybody CARE about the serial number when buying gas cylinders??? I did not even notice when I was given an almost empty one let alone the serial number!! Distributors must be checked for their merchandise.
Philip Pryce
Nov 3rd 2011, 16:25
You didn't notice it was easy to carry????
michael fenech
Nov 3rd 2011, 10:35
@ Albert Farrugia.
Why Maltese people put up with this? It’s because we are so busy making sure that our party wins the election at all cost so we can go out honking our horns, that’s why. We never learn.
Albert Farrugia
Nov 3rd 2011, 10:56
Spot on my friend!
A Cuschieri
Nov 3rd 2011, 12:46
BINGO!
Victor Vella
Nov 3rd 2011, 10:21
Fine, now can Liquigas and easy gas inform us of the procedures taken each time a cylinder is refilled?
marco caruana
Nov 3rd 2011, 10:00
dawn l affarijiet jigru biss fiz zimbabwe !
nisperaw li min hu responsabli jiehu li haqqu b serjeta kbira .
Anthony Roberts
Nov 3rd 2011, 09:22
Surely you would insure any way against any possibility.
Edward Mallia
Nov 3rd 2011, 09:15
I would like to congratulate Easygas on its choice of Italian storage site for gas cylinders. At the bottom of the hill on which Padula is built, there is a magnificent edifice, La Certosa di S. Lorenzo, recently restored. Its quadrangle would be good enough for 150,000 cylinders at least, even under cover on the surrounding cloisters.
On the 'negative' side -- as far a 'storing' gas cylinders is concerned, Padula keeps alive the memory of Joe Petrosino, the Italo-american policeman who took on the New York Black Hand. He was shot dead in Palermo, when he came to Italy to pull the Black Hand up by its Sicilian roots.
Mr Lawrence Mifsud
Nov 3rd 2011, 09:00
Pertinent questions that must be answered immediately and without beating round the bush.
Jay Oatmon
Nov 3rd 2011, 09:00
In Malta profit always trumps safety - because there is normally no enforcement of any law (it's easier to do nothing) except for traffic fines.
Mario Micallef
Nov 3rd 2011, 08:53
Jien ma nistax nifhem...il-girja ghal flus wisq ghamitu lil dal-pajjiz...u fl-ahhar mill-ahhar min qed ibaghti? mhux il-klijent? kif dejjem tibqa dis-sehta li n-nies li m'ghandhom "say" ta' xejn jispiccaw ibaghtu biex 4 cwiec jibqghu jhaxxnu buthom a skapitu tat-tghaffig!!
j brincat
Nov 3rd 2011, 08:42
Our so called authorities are most of the time conspicuous by their absence and we are being fleeced to finance them!
(jb)
Albert Farrugia
Nov 3rd 2011, 08:32
And yet, no-one, absolutely no-one has yet called for political responsibility to be taken in this question. Who is politically responsible for this mess? Where is the government? Where is the minister for resources? Where? Why does not even the opposition call for political responsiblity to be taken? It is more than obvious that, like in public transport, the gas service reform has totally failed. Why do the Maltese people put up with this? And, also, who exactly are Easygas? Why dont they have a website? Why dont they have a public face? Someone who answers questions from the press? Why this anonymity and lack of visibility?
P Pace Balzan
Nov 3rd 2011, 08:12
Consumers need proper guidance.
Perhaps a hotline/s can be set up so that all customers can read out the serial numbers of their leased cylinders and thereby have them authenticated.
.
I can not understand why there is such a long delay in doing so.
.
To the MRA :
1-Shall we continue to use the cylinders?
2-What risks are involved?
3-Should we insure our properties and those of third parties to be on the safe side or
4-Should we just hold the MRA resposible?