Public urged to exchange sub-standard LPG bottles

PHUKET: Following the introduction of new safety regulations covering gas containers of the sort commonly used in homes and restaurants for cooking here, the government has urged consumers to check whether they have sub-standard liquid petroleum gas (LPG) bottles and, if so, to exchange them. After July 31, the only brands that will be legally available will be those manufactured by PTT, Siam Gas, Unique, World Gas, Esso, and Shell. These are the only brands that meet the new safety regulations. Anyone with a gas bottle of another brand is urged to exchange it as soon as possible. Charges for exchanging the sub-standard containers for the legal brands are as follows: 15 kg bottles less than five years old, 200 baht, and over five years old, 300 baht; 48 kg bottles less than five years old, 300 baht, and over five years old, 400 baht. The government estimates that there are at least 1 million – perhaps as many as 1.2 million – sub-standard gas bottles currently in circulation in Thailand.