Stakeholders take steps to address safety concerns in LPG plants

A two-day capacity building workshop on environmental safety, security and plant management organised for Liquefied Petroleum Gas investors in the state has been held in Enugu with a charge to adhere strictly to environmental laws in the state.

Declaring the workshop open, the state house of assembly chairman on environment Obinna Okenwa stressed the need for investors of LPG in the state to be more environmentally friendly in the course of carrying out their businesses.

Okenwa who thanked the organisers of the event for the initiative also urged the participants to strengthen their union for the business to thrive in the state and wished them a fruitful deliberation.

In their separate remarks, the senior special adviser to Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi on environmental matters, Oscar Onume, traditional ruler of Atakwu-Akegbe-Ugwu, Igwe Greg Ugwu and senior special adviser to governor Ugwuanyi on oil procurement, Odinaka commended Governor Ugwuanyi for providing an enabling environment for the sector to thrive.

Earlier in his welcome address, the SSA to governor Ugwuanyi on oil and gas, Uwaezuoke Ogbodo said the workshop was necessitated by increasing environmental concern occasioned by industrial accidents and to proffer best ways of tackling the threat which has claimed many lives in the country.

Ogbodo however, charged the participants to avail themselves of the opportunity provided by the workshop to acquire the needed knowledge for the safety of the state.

Some participants including Secretary of the LPG operators in the state, Uzochukwu Aniebo and George Ibekandu expressed delight on the occasion which according to them would enhance their proficiency.

The workshop organised by the office of the SSA to the governor on oil and gas is aimed at sensitizing operators of gas plants to take preemptive safety measures to forestall industrial accidents while it is expected also that they come up with a working document that would help facilitate their operation in the state.

The workshop featured paper presentation on vital topics such as safety in an LPG environment: a responsibility for LPG plant managers and operations, as well as guidelines for establishment and maintenance of LPG plants and emergency response techniques.