LPG storage facilities go operational in Badakhshan

FAIZABAD (Pajhwok): Strategic storage facilities having the capacity to hold up to 500 tonnes of liquefied gas were put into service in northeastern Badakhshan province on Thursday.

Fawad Akbarzada, head of the Badakhshan Petroleum Department, told Pajhwok Afghan News the facilities cost 146 million afs provided from the national budget.

He said the process of storing gas in the strategic reserves of Badakhshan had begun, with 126 tonnes of gas already transferred so far. More gas would be supplied in the next few weeks.

“The gas reservoirs are aimed at providing access to cheaper liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) in different parts of Faizabad and other districts of the province during the winter season.”

Mohammad Kazim Ahmadi, another official of the Petroleum Department, hoped with the facilities launched, many sale points would be established in the provincial capital to provide gas at a reasonable rate.

“There will be gas distribution centres in districts as well. For them, we have fixed the price of gas at 49 afs a kilo. They will sell it for 54 afs per kilo,” he added.

After Kabul, Badakhshan is the second province where LPG storage facilities have been built. The storage facilities would help reduce the cost of LPG in the market, he believed.

Ahmadi asked Faizabad inhabitants, civil society activists and gas consumers to cooperate with the LPG strategic facilities’ department to prevent fraud and unreasonably high prices.

Currently, a kilogram of LPG in Faizabad is sold for 70 afs, and as the weather gets colder, prices are likely to surge.

sns/mud