The importation of cooking gas through the Kenya-Tanzania border has been banned by Kenya’s Ministry of Energy and Petroleum in a move sought to curb the rising illicit trade.
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The ban, set to be implemented in a week’s time, has allayed fears of a looming shortage of cooking gas and a possible price surge in the country.
Petroleum PS Andrew Kamau said that the move is meant to do away with the various illegal cooking gas filling plants in the country that pose as a safety and security risks.
98 oil marketing companies have also been put on notice by the government for failing to comply with the law.
In a statement addressed to the Energy Regulatory Commissions and Kenya Bureau of Standards, Energy CS Charles Keter said that Mombasa is the only designated point of entry for Liquefied Petroleum Gas.
The PS also talked about the Petroleum Bill that is currently before Parliament which when passed to law will see stiffer penalties slapped on the offenders.
“Right now, the penalties are between Sh30, 000 and Sh40, 000 which anybody can pay. When we go to the new bill, the penalties are between Sh3 and Sh4 million with jail a term,” noted Kamau.
Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) on the other hand has issued a stern warning to at least 87 firms that have failed to comply with the company’s transport and safety agreement.
The company, through its managing director Joe Sang’, said that the firms risk being locked out of business if they will not have complied by the end of June.
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