The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) has shut down an illegal Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) refilling facility located in the Majengo area of Mombasa County, following a coordinated multi-agency weekend raid.
According to an official statement by EPRA, the facility violated Section 99(1)(m) of the Petroleum Act, CAP 308 by illegally refilling and rebranding LPG cylinders from multiple licensed brand owners without their written consent.
“Our ever-alert Surveillance and Enforcement team from the Coastal region over the weekend busted an illegal LPG refilling plant in the Majengo area of Mombasa County,” read a statement, “the facility was found refilling and rebranding LPG cylinders from multiple licensed brands owners without the written consent from the rightful owners in violation of Section 99(1)(m) of the Petroleum Act, CAP 308.”
The authority further uncovered risky practices that the plant had undertaken further endangering the lives of residents.
“Investigations also revealed that the facility had gone a step further by tampering with brand identities by removing valves, defacing cylinders, and altering logos. These actions breach Regulation 15 of the Petroleum (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) Regulations, 2019, and pose serious safety risks,” the statement added.
The raid was coordinated by EPRA’s Coast Regional Manager Mr. Francis Keri in collaboration with officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), the National Police Service (NPS), the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), and the Anti-Counterfeit Authority (ACA).
After successful shutdown of the plant, EPRA along with the multi agency task force that coordinated the operation are expected to initiate legal proceedings against those responsible.
