THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 1982
A POST OF GAS ADVISER AND TWO SUPPORTING POSTS OF CHIEF ENGINEER SHOULD BE FILLED BY THE MIDDLE OF THIS YEAR. THE IR PRIORITY TASK WILL BE TO DRAW UP A PROGRAMME FOR INTRODUCING NECESSARY AND PRACTICAL IMPROVEMENTS.
UNTIL THE PERMANENT STAFF ARRIVE, A SENIOR GOVERNMENT ENGINEER WILL DISCHARGE THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE GAS ADVISER ON A TEMPORARY BASIS AND WILL BE ASSISTED BY TWO EXPERIENCED GAS ENGINEERS SECONDED FROM THE UNITED KINGDOM UNDER A RECENTLY CONCLUDED CONSULTANCY AGREEMENT. THIS IS TO ENSURE THAT THE DETAILED CONSIDERATION OF THE CONSULTANTS REPORT AND PLANNING WILL CONTINUE WITHOUT INTERRUPTION. THE GOVERNMENT HAS TAKEN SOME ACTION ALREADY, EVEN BEFORE RECEIPT OF THE CONSULTANTS' FINAL REPORT AND THE ARRIVAL OF RESIDENT EXPERTS. FIRE PREVENTION OFFICERS AND PWD ENGINEERS HAVE BEEN INSPECTING BULK LPG INSTALLATIONS, FOR EXAMPLE, WITH A VIEW TO BRINGING ABOUT IMPROVEMENTS BY LICENSEES, AND A SEARCH FOR NEW SITES TO RELIEVE CONGESTED GAS WORKS HAS BEGUN.
THE SPOKESMAN STRESSED THAT IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CONSULTANTS' RECOMMENDATIONS WOULD HAVE FAR-REACHING FINANCIAL AND PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS WHICH REQUIRED THOROUGH EXAMINATION.
THE CONSULTANTS HAVE THEMSELVES STATED THAT A TEAM OF SPECIALISTS WOULD NEED TO WORK OVER MANY MONTHS BEFORE PROGRAMMES FOR IMPLEMENTATION COULD BE WORKED OUT, AND THAT ACTUAL
IMPLEMENTATION WOULD HAVE TO BE STEP-BY-STEP OVER A NUMBER OF YEARS.
THIS IS PARTICULARLY TRUE OF THE TWO RECOMMENDATIONS WHICH
ARE OF MOST DIRECT INTEREST TO CONSUMERS.
THE FIRST CONCERNS THE PHASING OUT OF LPG CYLINDERS IN HIGH-RISE DOMESTIC BUILDINGS IN VIEW OF THE SERIOUS RISKS THAT EXPLODING CYLINDERS CAN CAUSE TO RESIDENTS AND TO FIREMEN AND OTHER RESCUE PERSONNEL IN THE EVENT OF A FIRE.
BUT THE USE OF LPG CYLINDERS CAN ONLY BE DISCONTINUED AFTER VIABLE ALTERNATIVES, MAINLY IN THE FORM OF BULK GAS SUPPLIES THROUGH PIPES, HAVE BEEN PROVIDED. THE CONSULTANTS HAVE ESTIMATED THIS TO BE A $800-900 MILLION PROGRAMME AFFECTING 170 000 HOUSEHOLDS.
THE SECOND RELATES TO INSTANTANEOUS WATER HEATERS. THE CONSULTANTS ESTIMATE THAT, OF THE 440 000 GAS WATER HEATERS CURRENTLY IN USE, ABOUT 80 PER CENT NEED REPLACEMENT OR UPGRADING, AT A TOTAL COST OF $450 MILLION.
EVEN THOUGH THESE COSTS WILL ALMOST CERTAINLY EVENTUALLY BE SHARED OUT YONG INDIVIDUAL OWNERS OF PROPERTY AND APPLIANCES AND GAS CONSUMERS, THEY ARE NEVERTHELESS SIGNIFICANT. THE WORKS INVOLVED ILL ALSO PLACE VERY HEAVY DEMANDS ON THE STAFF RESOURCES AND TECHNICAL EXPERTISE OF THE GAS AND OIL COMPANIES AS WELL AS APPLIANCE INSTALLERS, AND WILL TAKE A LONG TIME.
HELS TMT TCATIONS,