DOE alarmed by proliferation of refillable butane

THE Department of Energy (DOE-Mindanao) is alarmed by the continuous proliferation of refillable butane canisters in the market, not only in Davao Region but the entire Mindanao.

DOE-Mindanao Director Nilo Geroche said during a press conference on Tuesday, June 27, that they had been issuing advisories about this.

Geroche said this when asked by the media if the agency had been receiving reports of selling "unsafe" liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders in the market.

The official said that there are "few LPG industry players on the island."

"But the most notable violation regarding the unsafe cylinders is the proliferation of non-refillable canister, which is not only proliferating in Davao City but almost in the entire Mindanao area," the DOE official said.

Geroche, in a previous report, pointed out that there is no refilling of butane in the Philippines because it has to be imported by suppliers in other countries.

He warned that the contents of refilled canisters are not butane but liquefied petroleum gas or LPG which is dangerous.

He added that the small and thin butane gas canisters are not designed to be filled with LPG that can easily explode and result in fire.

Geroche even compared LPG refilling a butane gas canister to bottled gasoline.

Therefore, he called on the public not to compromise their safety for cheap yet dangerous products.

Meanwhile, he also reminded the public to buy LPG from licensed sellers.

"I can say that the consumers in the Mindanao area are safe as long as they are buying from legitimate LPG industry players," Geroche said.

He added that one of the features of the Republic Act No. 11592 or the "LPG Industry Regulation Act" is that LPG players and sellers should secure license to operate and mandatory registration of their respective branches to DOE. RGL