Steel gas cylinders are being phased out and replaced with composite cylinders
Fillers of cooking gas (LPG) has started phasing out steel cylinders and replacing them with composite cylinders since August as ordered by the forward command of the Internal Security Operations Command in order to ease the impacts of the explosions from explosives-stuffed steel cylinders.
The ISOC’s forward command has mandated that all the 15-kg gas cylinders which are made of steel and have been widely used by bomb makers as containers of explosive devices must be completely phased out in the three southernmost provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat and four districts of Songkhla province.
The steel cylinders will be replaced by composite cylinders which are lighter but as strong as steel, last longer, between 20-30 years, but about 30 percent more expensive.
Colonel Krittapas Kruanaet, commander of the Explosives Ordnance Disposal unit of the Anothai Task Force, said that the replacement of the steel gas cylinders would not stop the bomb makers from using the composite cylinders to make bombs but the impacts from bombs made of composite cylinders would be much less. Also, he added that the bomb makers might turn more to other containers such as steel boxes and steel pipes.
He explained that composite cylinders have lower melting point and, therefore, will melt away after exposing to intense heat unlike steel cylinders which, when exploded, will scatter shrapnels that kill or maim people within their killing radius.
Based on statistics of bomb explosions in the Deep South for the past 11 years, the colonel disclosed that there were 1,326 explosions from bombs made from steel boxes and 362 cases of pipe bombs. Meanwhile, there were 420 cases of explosions from bombs made of 5-kg and 15-kg steel gas cyclinders and 369 cases of explosions from bombs made of fire extinguisher cylinders.
Colonel Krittapas said the idea of replacing steel cylinders with composite ones was initiated by the government to ensure better safety for civilians and security forces alike in the Deep South in case of bomb explosions.
Cooking gas dealers have been told to gradually recall the steel cylinders from consumers and to refund them their deposit money. The steel cylinders will then be moved out of the restive region within September 30 next year.
As part of the escalated security precaution, LPG gas stations are banned, as of August 1, from filling LPG gas into cylinders used for other purposes aside from car fuel and all LPG filling stations will be kept under tight control.
The new security measure to replace steel cylinders with composite ones has been embraced by business operators in the region. Mr Prasert Wongrattanapipat, manager of an electrical appliances shop, said he has already stopped using steel cylinders.
Mr Rusdee Jehmasae, an LPG gas station assistant, said even though filling gas into cylinders for cooking is not prohibited yet he has stopped doing it in compliance with the government’s policy.
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Caption : Explosives-stuffed steel cylinders in deep South