LPG Business Is The Maintenance Of Safety: The Bangladesh Context

Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) has emerged as a vital energy source for Bangladesh's domestic, industrial, and transport sectors. The LPG market in Bangladesh has experienced remarkable expansion over the past decade. As the nation transitions from a reliance on natural gas to a diversified energy mix, LPG offers a clean, efficient, and portable alternative. However, the very properties that make LPG convenient—its flammability, explosive nature, overpressure hazard, and wide use—also make it a significant safety concern. Fires and explosions have become increasingly frequent in Bangladesh in recent years. The LPG business, therefore, is fundamentally about maintaining safety throughout its lifecycle—from production, storage, and transportation to consumer use.

- By Dr. Md. Easir Arafat Khan

The Dual Nature of LPG: Energy and Hazard

LPG is a clean-burning fuel with a high heating value and lower carbon emissions compared to other hydrocarbons. It remains in liquid form under moderate pressure (6–7 bar), which makes it highly portable and convenient for handling and storage. However, LPG also poses significant hazards. When released to the atmosphere, it vaporizes readily and can form explosive mixtures with air at very low concentrations (Lower Explosive Limit ≈ 2%). Its minimum ignition energy is extremely low (≈ 0.25 mJ), making accidental ignition easy.

To illustrate its energy potential, a typical 12 kg household LPG cylinder contains energy roughly equivalent to 128 kg of TNT, highlighting the catastrophic consequences of uncontrolled release, flash fire, or explosion. This dual nature—efficient fuel versus serious hazard underscores the critical need for proper storage, handling, and safety precautions.

Unsafe Transportation and Storage: The Current Scenario in Bangladesh

Recent incidents across Bangladesh highlight the vulnerability of the LPG supply chain. Explosions during refilling, cylinder leaks in households, and truck-loaded LPG cylinder accidents on highways underscore weaknesses in safety practices. Unsafe transportation—such as overfilled or poorly maintained tankers, lack of vehicle inspection, and untrained drivers—has led to several road accidents, fires, and explosions. Similarly, unsafe storage practices, including the use of expired or substandard cylinders and inadequate fire protection systems at depots, pose grave risks to workers and surrounding communities.