Safety Gaps, Product Losses Threaten LPG Growth, Industry Stakeholders Warn

Safety lapses, regulatory non-compliance and product losses could undermine Nigeria’s ambition to grow liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) consumption, industry stakeholders have warned.

At the Nigerian Association of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers (NALPGAM) 2026 webinar, themed “Downstream LPG Operational Excellence and Compliance,” operators, regulators and other stakeholders examined risks facing the sector, including accidents, market volatility, operational losses and regulatory requirements.

The stakeholders called for safer facilities, competent personnel, stronger compliance and greater use of digital technologies across the LPG value chain.

In his opening address, the National President of NALPGAM, Barrister Edu Inyang, said increasing volumes alone would not guarantee sustainable growth in the industry.

“The future of Nigeria’s LPG industry cannot be achieved by increasing volumes alone. We must grow safely, responsibly, efficiently and sustainably. Safety is not an occasional campaign; it must become a continuous industry culture,” Inyang said.

A major outcome of the webinar was the adoption of an aspiration for a “NALPGAM Standard of Operational Excellence,” anchored on four principles: safe and well-maintained facilities, competent and trained operators, compliant processes, and customer protection.

Participants urged LPG operators to embed safety in daily operations, strengthen preventive maintenance and comply with licensing and incident-reporting requirements.

They also called for the elimination of unsafe practices, including unauthorised propane blending and illegal decanting, which they said expose consumers, facilities and investments to avoidable risks.

“Compliance is not merely a regulatory burden; it is a business advantage. Well-managed LPG operations reduce accidents, improve efficiency, protect investments and strengthen public confidence in our industry,” Inyang said.

The webinar also identified digitalisation as a practical route to reducing product losses and improving accountability in LPG operations.

Stakeholders highlighted smart filling systems, automated tank gauges, load cells, flow meters and vehicle tracking as technologies that could strengthen operational efficiency and reduce losses across the distribution chain.

Nigeria is targeting LPG consumption of about five million tonnes annually by 2030. Stakeholders said achieving the target would require wider participation in the Decade of Gas LPG penetration programme, stronger collaboration, improved cylinder traceability and support for certified local manufacturing.

NALPGAM also urged regulators and programme coordinators to involve its members in the implementation of LPG penetration and cylinder recirculation initiatives, citing the association’s nationwide reach and proximity to consumers.

“Our aspiration is clear: every LPG facility must be safe and properly maintained, every operator competent and adequately trained, every process compliant, and every customer protected. This is the standard of operational excellence we must collectively pursue,” Inyang said.

The association reaffirmed its commitment to constructive engagement with government, regulators and industry stakeholders to build a safer, more efficient and competitive LPG market.

NALPGAM said safety must become the industry’s culture, compliance its character, technology its catalyst, and operational excellence its competitive advantage.