Sale of Domestic Gas: MINEE on the offensive

The Minister of Water and Energy, Basile Atangana Kouna has recently warned unscrupulous domestic gas dealers to refrain from all illegal acts or face the law.

In a Ministerial decision made public recently, the Minister noted that 70 per cent of dealers in domestic gas nationwide do not have the legal permission to carry out certain activities in relation to the sales and distribution of domestic gas.

It is due to the disrespect of the laws enforced that a number of tragic incidences have been reported in recent times.

This stern warning from the Minister is reminiscent of the case of 22 November 2014 in Yaounde, where about 3,000 gas cylinders were consumed by fire after the dealer attempted to reduce the amount initially filled from the bottle.

Since the incident, competent authorities have been working in close collaboration with the ministry of water and energy to check a replay of the incidence that put a number of lives on the line.

In order to put order in the sector, the Ministry of Mines, Industry and Technological Development suspended the issuance of operating permits to potential domestic gas dealers until prospective applicants meet all the requirements necessary to guarantee the safety of the population.

The Minister also recalled that the geographical location of the centres of redistribution or storage depots is subject to the prior authorization of the Ministry of Water and Energy.

He has invited wholesalers, resellers and consumer point (hotels, restaurants and some industrial companies) to regularize their immigration status at the regional and departmental levels under the criminal code.