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Illegal LPG cylinder factory busted in Tangerang
Jakarta Police on Thurs-day raided a warehouse in an industrial complex in Kosambi, Tangerang, that was allegedly used to produce illegal 3-kilogram LPG cylinders
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akarta Police on Thurs-day raided a warehouse in an industrial complex in Kosambi, Tangerang, that was allegedly used to produce illegal 3-kilogram LPG cylinders.
During the raid, officers seized around 8,700 gas cylinders and arrested a suspect identified as S, the director of PT Jaya Usaha Bersama, the company that produced the cylinders.
“We will continue to investigate this case to find out whether the suspect is part of a network that produces fake LPG cylinders in other places,” Adj. Sr. Comr. Sandy Nugroho, Jakarta Police Trade and Industrial Unit chief said at the scene of the raid.
The distribution of the illegal cylinders threatened the lives of consumers because the factory did not apply certain safety standards to the cylinders it produced.
“There is a standard thickness [of metal used to produce] 3-kilogram LPG cylinders. Illegal products using inferior material would definitely put consumers’ lives at risk,” he said.
City Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Boy Rafli Amar said police would charge the suspect with Articles 8, 9, and 62 of the 1999 Law on Consumer Protection.
Since the kerosene-LPG conversion program started there has been at least 95 LPG explosions in Greater Jakarta and West Java, resulting in 22 deaths and 131 casualties.
According to the government, faulty gas hoses and regulators that did not meet Indonesian National Standards (SNI) were to blame for the gas leaks. Both components are sold separately.
The government has ordered PT Pertamina start selling approved hoses and regulators, however at present distribution is limited to Bekasi and a hazy distribution mechanism is applied.
Many have expressed doubts the new hoses and regulators will put a stop to the explosions.
Risma, an LPG agent in Sukasari, Tangerang, said she frequently received damaged LPG cylinders with leaks, from suppliers.
“I found that between 10 and 15 of the 560 LPG cylinders I received every day were damaged.
“The damage often affected the bottom or neck of the cylinders, and was most probably the result of impacts during the distribution and delivery process,” she said.
The cylinders’ rubber seals were also often found to be damaged, she added.
Similarly, Rodiah, a housewife from Babakan, Tangerang, said routine checking of LPG cylinders in circulation was a must to avoid more deaths and injuries.
“Honestly, as an LPG consumer, I am not convinced the SNI-approved components will put a stop to the explosions,” she said.
Meanwhile, trauma continues to haunt past explosion victims.
Tantri Utami, whose father Mohammad Saleh died in an explosion at his house in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta, in May, said the trauma was so great that she had not been able to use a stove since.
“Since then we have always bought our food. We will only be able to light a gas stove when the trauma is gone,” she said.
Tantri said her family had once considered using kerosene again, but had changed their minds because of its price.
Kerosene is sold at the fixed price of Rp 8,000 (88UScents) per liter, while 3-kilogram cylinders of subsidized LPG are priced at between Rp 13,000 and Rp 15,000.
