The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) on Saturday shut down and revoked the operating licence of Swift Energy Distributors Limited over alleged violation of safety regulations on four occasions.
In a statement, EPRA said that the revocation of the license followed an enforcement operation carried out by the authority at the company’s operating base in Mavoko, Machakos, a bust that the authority says erased any doubts that the company is still violating regulations despite an ongoing court case pitting the company against regulators.
“The revocation follows an enforcement operation carried out by EPRA on 25th June 2020 where the holder of the licence M/s Swift Energy Distributors Limited located off Mombasa Road at Mavoko, in the County of Machakos, was found in breach of the Petroleum (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) Regulations, 2019 or Legal Notice No. 100 of 2019,” EPRA said in a statement.
“EPRA hereby issues a stern warning to all LPG brand owners, facility owners and traders that failure to comply with Legal Notice No. 100 of 2019 especially with regard to the requirement of obtaining a prior written authorization or consent from an LPG cylinder brand owner before filling and trading, shall automatically lead to revocation of the operational licence,” added the regulator.
EPRA further threatened to have any other dealer violating regulations prosecuted.
In January 2020, the company requested EPRA to withdraw charges against four suspects accused of refilling gas cylinders without consent of brand owners.
Talib Zein Salimin, the owner of Swift Energy Distributors, was arrested on November 29, 2019 and was alongside three others accused of refilling brands such as Pro Gas, Total Gas, K-Gas and Afri-Gas without consent.
The businessman also allegedly transported the gas cylinders without the required licence.
However, the case is still ongoing after the authority declined the withdrawal request on the basis that the company was found to be non-compliant on several occasions.
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