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Ras Al Khaimah: The authorities here on Saturday told gas companies that they will be held accountable for expired gas cylinders and must pay for their disposal.
The Civil Defence Department held talks with the Department of Economic Development to discuss who should take responsibility for expired cylinders. In recent weeks, a number of companies have been found selling expired cylinders, which are a public health hazard.
The meeting concluded that sole responsibility lies with the gas companies who originally produced the cylinders. Each gas filling company should be responsible for its expired cylinders. If a member of the public discovers they have been sold an expired cylinder, it should be returned to the gas company for destruction and replaced with a new cylinder.
However, both departments have registered complaints from the public claiming the gas distributors have been refusing to exchange expired cylinders.
Major Abdullah Hanhoun, who heads the Dangerous Materials Section at Civil Defence, says the issue has become a large-scale problem. "Some gas distributors have been deceiving their clients, who do not pay attention to the production dates," he said.
Major Hanhoun urged the public to be extremely careful when they change their cooking gas cylinders and to check the cylinders' production dates. He stressed that the customers should also check the logo of the gas-filling company, installed clearly on the cylinder, and to report any violations instantly to the emirate's authorities.
To report an expired gas cylinder, call 07-222-1722 or 800-7253266.
Meanwhile, the Department of Economic Development on Saturday reduced the price of gas cylinders.
The 22kg cooking gas cylinder now costs Dh85, down from Dh89. The new prices are fixed until March 6.
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