The Energy and Minerals Regulatory Commission has announced the approval of a new technology for composite gas cylinders (commonly known as plastic cylinders) designated for household use. These cylinders will be available for optional use alongside traditional metal cylinders currently used in homes.
اضافة اعلان
This decision is in response to technological advancements in gas filling, storage, and distribution, aimed at improving safety standards, enhancing energy resource sustainability, offering more efficient solutions to consumers, and improving quality of life.
The Commission stated that the Board of Commissioners decided in its meeting on Tuesday to approve the amended regulations for the distribution and storage of gas cylinders, including composite cylinders.
The introduction of these cylinders, which are the first of their kind in Jordan, is expected to benefit all parties involved, including citizens, sector workers, and investors.
The new composite gas cylinders, with a capacity of 12.5 kilograms of gas (the same as the traditional metal cylinders), are intended to improve services for citizens. This initiative follows consultations with relevant experts in the field, extensive studies, and insights from international best practices and other countries' experiences. Collaborative meetings with representatives of the oil and gas sector have been ongoing since 2018, and have contributed to developing the regulations governing this activity. These regulations align with the Jordanian Standards and Metrology Organization's technical specifications for composite gas cylinders, similar to the ISO11119 international standard. All tests conducted by the Royal Scientific Society confirmed the quality of the composite cylinders, including explosion resistance, fragmentation spread, pressure, temperature tolerance, and crack resistance.
In detail, the composite gas cylinders offer several advantages, including:
High durability
Improved safety features
Lightweight (weighing 5.3 kg when empty, compared to 17 kg for the metal cylinder)
Transparent structure for monitoring the gas level
Explosion-resistant in case of fire
Non-conductive and highly safe with long-lasting materials resistant to corrosion and impacts, thus increasing their lifespan and reducing maintenance needs.
The quality of the materials also helps reduce carbon emissions and enhances environmental sustainability by decreasing the use of metals, while their components are recyclable, making them more eco-friendly.
These composite gas cylinders have been used for over 20 years in more than 100 countries, with varied climates including hot, humid regions such as Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, UAE, Kuwait, Egypt, Lebanon, and Algeria, as well as cold climates like Norway. They are designed to withstand temperatures ranging from -40°C to +65°C.
The Commission emphasized that the investment door remains open for any party interested in engaging in gas cylinder filling or importing composite gas cylinders. It also urged citizens to take advantage of this new technology and encouraged interested parties to apply for the necessary permits and licenses to operate in this field. It also highlighted that the storage, transport, and distribution of composite gas cylinders will be carried out exclusively by approved and licensed gas warehouses, centers, and distributors.
The Commission will regularly review and assess the implementation process, studying the impact on import quantities, storage capacities, and the number of cylinders needed to meet the local market's needs while maintaining an adequate strategic stock. Necessary corrective actions will be taken based on the evaluation results to ensure continuous service provision and the introduction of new, safe technologies in liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) applications.
The Commission stressed that metal cylinders will continue to be available in the local market, offering consumers a variety of safe options, in line with Jordan's adopted technical standards, which align with the international standards. Additionally, awareness campaigns will be launched to educate consumers on the benefits of the new cylinders and how to use them safely.
