Jakarta, Indonesia (News Today) - Three cabinet ministers inspected a factory producing liquefied natural gas (LPG) cylinders in the industrial area of Bekasi, West Java, on Friday. The three ministers were Coordinating Minister for People’s Welfare Agung Laksono, Industry Minister MS Hidayat and Minister for State Enterprises Mustafa Abubakar.
The ministers made the inspection in connection with the frequent explosions of gas stoves with 3-kg LPG canisters as a result of substandard accessories such as regulators, valves and pipes which did not meet the Indonesian National Standard (SNI) requirement. Many consumers have become victims of gas cylinder explosions after the government launched a kerosene-to-gas conversion program.
In 2007, there were five cases of gas canister explosions with injured victims, 27 cases in 2008 with two dead and 35 injured and in 2009 with 30 blasts killing 12 victims and injuring 48 others. Up to June 2010, a total of 33 blasts with 8 dead and 44 injured has been recorded.
The trade ministry said it had conducted inspections several times to factories which produced, assembled or sold stove pipes and regulators. It also confiscated productions which did not meet the SNI requirements. In the meantime, Industry Minister MS Hidayat said that all gas cylinders bearing state energy company Pertamina’s label will be distributed only with the company’s approval to guarantee their security and quality.
"There will be new regulations on the production of new gas cylinders with Pertamina labels. All must be produced on Pertamina’s orders and they can be distributed only with the state firm’s approval," Industry Minister MS Hidayat said here on Friday.
He made the remarks after inspecting PT Multi Lestari, producer of gas canisters and their accessories in an industrial area in Bekasi, West Java.
According to Pertamina’s spokesman Basuki Trikora Putra, the approval would be issued by Pertamina based on the result of inspections on the requirements of the Indonesian National Standards (SNI).
"The SNI standards have been decided and Pertamina should check it," the minister said.
Source : kompas
Thursday, July 15, 2010
After Explosions, Three Ministers Inspect Gas Cylinder Factory
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