The National Petroleum Authority (NPA) has stated its readiness to kick start the gas cylinder re-circulation exercise by first quarter of next year.

Mr Samuel Bediako, Unified Petroleum Price Fund Coordinator, NPA, said they had held consultative meetings with all key stakeholders in the re-circulation chain and ready to move into full implementation in months.

At a media engagement in Ho, he noted that the establishment of bottling plants at vantage places to receive empty cylinders for refill and re-circulation delayed the process, but was being addressed.

Mr Bediako said the exercise was to ensure that access to clean safe gas for domestic usage increased from 25 per cent to about 50 per cent by 2030, while reducing the risk involved in dealing with Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG).

Mr Bediako said the plan was for users of LPG to send empty cylinders to a collection point to be exchanged with filled cylinders after Bulk Road Vehicles had supplied LPG stations located away from populated centres with the gas in minimising the impact of accidents and explosions.

He said the Authority was also recruiting 200 safety officers in ensuring that all safety protocols were observed and that a total of about 4,500 new jobs would be created.

Mrs Sheila Abiemo, Head of Research, NPA, said the Authority would begin a process of recalling cylinders in exchange for new ones and urged the public to take advantage of the process when it starts.