The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) seeks to enter a deal with the County Government of Siaya to ensure the safety of residents dealing in petroleum products.

According to the EPRA Deputy Director in charge of Public Education and Advocacy, Ann Kiprotich, they want to collaborate with the Siaya government to ensure proper zoning and planning of the tankers to tame fuel tragedies.

Safety partnership begins

“Siaya has faced serious petrol tragedies, especially Sibindi and Malanga, and we will not bury our heads as if nothing happened.”

“That is why we are in Siaya to agree on strategies that would see LPG plants and fuel stations placed in secluded areas that do not interfere with the safety of people,” she said.

Kiprotich, who led a delegation to pay a courtesy call to Governor James Orengo, said they had witnessed an explosion of a plant that was not licensed and was placed in a residential area.

That is why they are seeking to collaborate with countries to tame such tragedies.

Kiprotich said EPRA is committed to supporting initiatives that would bring order to the way petroleum products are transported.

“We want to partner with the Orengo-led administration to bring order to the way petroleum products get transported.

“You find fuel tankers parked haphazardly in towns or places with heavy populations, and in case of accidents, innocent Kenyans lose their lives,” she added.

Past quarter reports showed that some petrol stations in Siaya were found to be on the wrong side of the law in terms of fuel adulteration.

Addressing persistent risks

It is unfortunate that fuel destined for Uganda ends up in certain fuel stations along the Kisumu-Busia highway.

“We have mapped five city counties as a pilot where we are going to pursue space where tankers can be placed. We also look at disaster preparedness, and we are working closely with NEMA to ensure there are environmental health safety considerations when it comes to projects we implement.”

She added that they are working on a comprehensive disaster preparedness plan to deal with LPG and electricity disasters.

Kiprotich said the EPRA team will have a consultation with administration officers led by Siaya County Commissioner Norbat Komora on Tuesday, and they expect information on siphoning of fuel, diversion of products and illegal electricity connections.

“We have planned a sensitisation meeting with administration officers from the national government that will kick off tomorrow, and we expect to get information on cases of fuel siphoning and its areas, diversion of products and settlements with illegal electricity connections,” she added.

Kiprotich said the administrators will also receive capacity building, adding that EPRA is known as a fuel price setter, and that is only a small portion of their mandate.

“We also monitor fuel price compliance by ensuring the changes are effected immediately as gazetted.”

On Wednesday, Kiprotich said, they will meet the county government officers aligned to their mandate, including enforcement teams that check the licenses of retailers dealing in LPG, petrol station owners and construction projects.

“Sometimes there are mushrooming petrol stations erected in the wrong places.”

“We also expect representation from the trade department because of calibration issues. We have seen under-dispensing of products in some petrol stations.”

“We also want to sensitise the fire department so they know how to tackle petrol fires. We also expect them to enlighten participants on ways of fighting fire incidents that may result from LPG explosions.”

County Secretary Joseph Ogutu lauded EPRA’s move to partner with them, saying it is timely and a strategy to tame fuel tragedies.

To ensure the safety of Sega residents, they have secured land for parking fuel tankers.

“Improper parking of fuel tankers along the roads in Sega is disastrous and that is why we secured funds and purchased land meant for parking the fuel tankers,” Ogutu said, adding that Ugunja will also have its parking lot,” he said.

He also challenged the weights and measures units to take up their mandate seriously.

“We want to see routine check-ups of fuel quality and pumps, weight machines,” he added.

Energy Chief Officer Nicholas Kut Ochog asked EPRA to review taxes levied on street lighting.

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