Cooking with butane gas stoves cheaper, but LPG refills are fire hazard

Metodia Aranas of barangay Lahug, Cebu City uses an LPG gas refill that cost P28 for her cooking gas stove at home. It’s cheaper than buying a new P75 butane can or paying P900 for an 11-kilo LPG cylinder. (CDN PHOTO/ JOSE SANTINO BUNACHITA)

Authorities yesterday gave this warning after noting the proliferation of shops that illegally refill butane gas canisters with LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) in Metro Cebu and its suburbs.

The danger of an accidental explosion at home arises from misuse of the refilled butane can for daily activities like cooking.

Antonio Labios, regional director of the Department of Energy, said improper LPG refills are prohibited under a DOE circular issued in Jan. 7 this year by Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla.

In a news conference, Labios asked local government officials to help enforce the policy for public safety.

It’s easy to see why the cheaper substitute is appealing to budget-tight families.

A 250-gram butane gas canister costs around P75 while an 11-kilo LPG cylinder costs around P900.

Sari-sari stores sell illegally refilled canisters with LPG for as low as P28.

A canister is said to be good for three uses while an LPG cylinder lasts for over a month, depending on the usage.

Portable butane stoves are designed for outdoor use like camping, not daily cooking indoors.

A portable gas stove is sold in local hardware stores for as low as P600. Some shops throw in three butane gas canisters as a freebie.

Metodia Aranas, a seamstress from barangay Lahug in Cebu City, uses refilled gas canisters at home because its affordable.

“Wala man koy kwarta ikapalit ug Shellane , mag-mantiner na lang sa ko sa butane refill,” Aranas told Cebu Daily News.

(Since I don’t have money to buy an LPG cylinder, I get by using butane gas refills.)

You can’t blame low-income families for using refills, said Eli, an NGO worker from Mandaue City.

“What will you do if you’re in the middle of cooking a meal and run out of gas? An LPG dealer can’t deliver a new LPG cylinder unless you have P900, but with P28 you can run to the store and get a refilled canister,” he said in Cebuano.

The DOE policy was aimed at curbing unlawful and unsafe practices of some LPG industry players.

“We have not done a very thorough assessment on the widener use of butane refills, but this issue came up last year. Since we now have a policy prohibiting refilling of butane canisters, we want to partner with LGUs to help us apprehend, especially in the barangays,” said Labios.

The practice of refilling butane canisters with LPG started in Mindanao and reached bigger cities in the Visayas last year, according to Rey Maleza, Energy Industry Management Division supervisor at the DOE regional office.

The safety hazard is real, he said.

Portable butane stoves are designed for outdoor use like camping, but due to its convenience, it’s being used in households, especially in boarding houses where it’s difficult to cook, he said.

“We are not trying to be anti-poor. We are being pro-safety. Although we haven’t recorded actual cases of explosions, we don’t want to wait for that to happen,” he said.

Maleza explained that LPG has a higher pressure than butane which can range from 480 to 1050 kilopascals (kPa) while butane has a maximum pressure of 485 kPa.

Butane gas canisters don’t have a pressure relief valve. Its valve is only made of plastic.

The valve of an LPG cylinder is made of stronger material and has a pressure relief valve.
Butane gas canisters are mostly made of tin with their joints soldered unlike LPG cylinders whose joints are welded, making them sturdier.

Cebu City’s fire marshal, Rogelio Bongabong Jr., echoed the DOE official’s explanation.
“LPG is heavier compared to butane,” he told CDN.

While the fire department hasn’t recorded a fire yet caused by an exploding butane gas canister, he said the public should not take chances.

These canisters are meant to be disposable so users who run out of butane gase should get a new one.

At the news conference, the DOE officials presented samples of refilled canisters that were confiscated by Cebu city traffic enforcers from a delivery boy last week.

The canisters looked worn out and stained with rust. They didn’t have safety caps or any cover. The canisters were labeled “for one time use, disposable and should never be refilled”.
Citom has pledged to help in the campaign within Cebu City.

“The Citom board has seen the risks for motorists and the public when they deliver these in roads. We are very willing to cooperate with the DOE,” said Citom operations Joy Tumulak at the news conference. / With a report from correspondent Michelle Joy Padayhag