DOE Sees LPG Price Downtrend, Shares Safety Tips

With the downtrend in the international contract price of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), the Department of Energy-Oil Industry Management Bureau (DOE-OIMB) has announced a possible rollback in the price of an 11-kilogram LPG cylinder by about P4.

Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi said that based on the DOE-OIMB’s international price monitoring, the contract price for March amounts to $564 per metric ton (MT) which is $9 lower than the contract price in February of $573/MT.

He added that the rollback of $9/MT could translate to a P0.36/kg; hence a possible P4 reduction per 11kg LPG cylinder.

Cusi urged the buying public to always check every LPG cylinder to ensure that it is of the right quantity and quality.

“Aside from determining the right price, I encourage the public to also look closely at the quantity of the LPG cylinder by assuring that it is the correct and accurate weight. The quality of the tank should also be taken into consideration especially if it poses certain safety risks,” Cusi recommended.

To know if your LPG-filled cylinder is of the right quality and safe to use, the DOE has issued the following guidelines:

1. Buy LPG cylinders with proper markings (brand name, tare weight, etc.) from authorized outlets only;

2. Check the LPG cylinder for excessive rustiness and dents;

3. Ensure that the collar and footring are smooth and properly welded and

4. Ensure that the LPG seal is intact and firmly affixed to the valve.

Cusi also asked the public to take extra precautions especially since March is Fire Prevention Month.

“Paalala po sa ating mga Nanay at mga kusinero para sa maingat na paggamit ng LPG. Sa pagpasok ng summer season, tumataas ang insidente ng sunog. Kaya po, we encourage the public to regularly check if there is a leak in their LPG cylinders, to store it in areas with sufficient ventilation, to keep it away from electrical switches and outlets and to ensure that it is always in an upright position,” Cusi advised.

“We do not want to see our people suffer from a fire caused by the misguided use of LPG,” Cusi concluded. (DOE)