The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) has shut down an illegal gas refilling plant in Mombasa’s Majengo estate following a weekend raid led by a multi-agency team targeting unlicensed LPG operations along the Coast.

In a statement, EPRA said the plant was uncovered as part of an ongoing crackdown on illegal gas operations in the region.

The operation was led by Coast Regional Manager Francis Keri and involved officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), the National Police Service (NPS), the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), and the Anti-Counterfeit Authority (ACA).

“Our ever-alert surveillance and enforcement team from the coastal region over the weekend busted an illegal LPG refilling plant in the Majengo area of Mombasa County,” the authority said.

EPRA said the unlicensed facility had been refilling and rebranding LPG cylinders from multiple licensed brand owners without their written consent, in violation of Section 99(1)(m) of the Petroleum Act, CAP 308.

“Investigations also revealed that the facility had gone a step further by tampering with brand identities by removing valves, defacing cylinders, and altering logos. These actions breach Regulation 15 of the Petroleum (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) Regulations, 2019, and pose serious safety risks,” the Authority added.

Photos shared by the authority showed hundreds of gas cylinders ranging between 6kg and 13kg, many of which had been altered or repainted to conceal their original branding.

EPRA maintained that the raid was part of its broader efforts to enhance regulatory compliance in the LPG sector and protect consumers from the dangers associated with illegal refilling operations.

“The authority and its multi-agency partners remain firmly committed to ensuring regulatory compliance and protecting public safety. Investigations are ongoing, and all those found responsible will face appropriate legal action,” EPRA said.

The incident comes just months after concerns were raised over the unsafe transportation of LPG across various regions. During a recent public education and stakeholder engagement forum in Isiolo County, officials warned about the risks of using public service vehicles to transport gas cylinders.

“County staff from the fire department raised concerns over the transportation of LPG cylinders in public service vehicles, a common practice in many rural areas that poses a significant safety risk to the general public,” EPRA said.