LPG firm has Allayed Public Fears Over Safety of its Gas Consignment Landed in Kilifi
Lake Gas Kenya cylinders. (Photo/ Courtesy)
By Raymond Mwakwaya
Email, thecoastnewspaper@gmail.com
Lake Gas Kenya has now defended the safety standard of its gas consignment it imported through the new Kilifi port at Vipingo.
This is in reaction to widespread media reports that the gas consignment that the Kilifi based company imported has safety concerns being investigated by the Kenya Bureau of standards (KEBS).
Lake Gas Limited imported 11,475 metric tons of Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) at its 10,000 metric tons storage facilty in Kilifi.
The first consignment of the 11,474 metric tons of LPG from Nigeria was offloaded by MT Barumk Gas at the Vipingo LPG Terminal in Kilifi County that holds 10,000 metric tons storage capacity.
The firm says that Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) letter dated June 11, 2025, duly confirmed that the sample submitted for testing met quality and safety standards.
Lake Gas Ltd General manager Morris Mutiso confirms that Lake Gas sources its LPG exclusively from reputable global suppliers and partners who strictly adhere to international standards.
“KEBS has not questioned the quality or safety of the gas itself. As noted in the last paragraph of the KEBS letter, the Bureau has instructed the addition of ethyl mercaptan, an odorant added to LPG to provide a distinctive smell,” said Mutiso.
The statement reads: “The infusion of odorant is a standard safety measure intended to allow for the quick detection of gas leaks. It is a routine compliance requirement and does not in any way relate to or affect the quality of the gas”.
The company management terms the recent letter by KEBS as a standard communication between a bulk LPG importer and KEBS, before any release of any consignment to the market.
“As it is now, Lake Gas LPG has not been released to the market, and will not be released until KEBS carries out the aforesaid standard procedures before we embark on the journey to transforming the LPG industry by ensuring quality and affordable product to the consumers,”he said.
He added: “We have now completed the process of infusing the required amount of odorant/stench in order to give our LPG the distinctive smell, pending KEBS’ final inspection and testing of the smelling today before granting approval for the gas to be released to the market”.
The official affirmed that Lake Gas remains committed to upholding both international and local regulatory standards, and to providing our customers with a safe, high-quality energy product.
Safety, compliance, and transparency remain at the core of our operations in Kenya and all other markets we serve,”he added.
Mutiso said the facilty will employ 70 personnel of Kilifi residents with over 1000 benefititng indirectly.
Mutiso said that Kenya now has the capacity to handle more LPG capacity, and that it will provide healthy competition to cushion the customer from high prices.
He said the LPG will be supplied to Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and Sudan.
