Updated | Liquigas denies propane risk inside gas cylinders

Updated at 10.15am with Easygas reaction

A spokesperson for gas suppliers Liquigas has denied that the use of propane in the LPG mix for gas cylinders could be hazardous for appliances that are being exposed to pressures higher than the G30 and G31 standards. 

The company on Wednesday said in a statement – issued hours after it received questions from MaltaToday – that none of the latest two incidents involving gas explosion involved cylinders. “One was the result of a defective appliance and the other was due to a cracked rubber pipe. The first of the three recent incidents is under a magisterial investigation and therefore one cannot make any statement until the inquiry is concluded.” 

But MaltaToday has learnt that energy minister Joe Mizzi and Marjohn Abela, CEO of the Regulator for Energy and Water Services, were warned by industry sources that the increased use of propane inside Liquigas cylinders could be a cause for concern. 

In a confidential note sent to the minister and the REWS chief, the source said that Liquigas’s recent imports of propane for its gas cylinders were not in line with legal requirements to bottle only LPG (liquefied petroleum gas, or G30). 

Liquigas has denied this statement: it told MaltaToday its LPG cylinders are filled according to the national Liquified Petroleum Market Regulations and the relevant standards (BS EN 589 and BS 4250). “G30 and G31 are standards related to appliances that use LPG as a fuel. The fact that cylinders are filled with LPG (either propane, or a mix of propane and butane) does not expose the gas using appliance to pressures higher than those established in the G30 and G31 standards, and therefore impose no risk to the end user,” Liquigas said. 

But REWS, which receives monthly reports from Liquigas on the gas it imports and distributes to the market, was asked to investigate the bottling of propane in domestic cylinders. 

“In the last months Liquigas has been importing only propane when our legislation requires us to bottle LPG mix for G30, so much so that importers of domestic appliances in Malta also import equipment such as gas heaters and cookers which are rated G30,” the note states. 

Gas companies import both propane and butane, but 1kg of propane delivers more litres of the same gas, than 1kg of butane. 

By bottling propane in domestic tanks, added hazards could include over-pressure in hoses; and where such gas appliances designed for an LPG mix are suddenly supplied with propane, these are exposed to a higher pressure. “In the past, the [gas cylinder] regulator was designed for an inlet pressure of five bar, which is OK for the mix but dangerous for propane,” the note said. 

Another danger for domestic settings occurs in the joint between the rubber hose and the copper pipe. Most joints are made by simply sliding the rubber hose on the copper pipe and placing a hose clip. “Although this is not to standard, this is OK for the low-pressure G30 mix. If there is a small leak of the regulator, pressure accumulates in the hose. When the pressure is low, this joint is fine; but it is not good for the high pressure of propane,” the note warns. 

Liquigas has said in a statement that its green and yellow cylinders are certified by TUV, a technical inspection association that conducts testing to international standards. The company said the Maltese authorities also oversee the filling operations and had “always found that Liquigas cylinders comply with all regulations.” 

Liquigas said customers had to ensure gas regulators and rubber hoses are in a good condition “Some regulators on the market are not of good quality. In any case, regulators should be replaced every 10 years. The old regulator should be disposed of immediately so that it is never used or installed again. Regulators are precisely set by the manufacturer to control the pressure of the supply, and therefore they must not be adjusted privately.” 

Even hoses should be regularly checked for possible cracks and replaced every five years.  

In the case of Liquigas cylinders, customers are urged to check that the cylinders they are receiving have a Liquigas-branded seal, which has a serial number for identification and traceability with the words ‘Liquigas’ on it.  “This seal offers peace of mind to customers as it shows that the cylinder has been tested and properly filled at Liquigas facility, and therefore carries the guarantee of quality,” the spokesperson said.

Easygas: we have always made distinction between LPG mix in domestic cylinders and propane used for commercial purposes

In a reaction to today's report on Liquigas cylinders in MaltaToday, Easygas said that it "would like to clarify that it has always made a distinction between the LPG mix filled in domestic cylinders and propane used for commercial purposes".

"Easygas uses as mix of butane/propane in the ration of 70/30% for the summer mix and 80/20% for the winter mix - these are bottled in the standard domestic grey cylinder," the company said.

It highlighted that pure propane is bottled only for commercial purposes and the cylinders are painted in red for clear identification.

"All prices are also in accordance with those issued by REWS for LPG mix and Propane," it added.

"Easygas imports and bottles only Butane and Propane according to  the national Liquified Petroleum Market Regulations (BSEN 589 and BS4250)."

Minister's statement

In a reply to this story, the Ministry for Energy and Water Management denied receiving a ‘confidential note' as stated in the article. MaltaToday stands by its story.