LPG tanks and any other cylinders not specifically designed for CNG use must not in any circumstances or situations be allowed to be filled with CNG. There are already too many cases of LPG cylinders and other gases cylinders such as CO2, N2, O2 and Acetylene cylinders, including welded steel pipes that had been used to fill CNG with catastrophe results. Using non-CNG cylinders (including sub-standard CNG cylinders) and welded pipes for CNG are very dangerous.

Current standards and regulations in most countries are adequate to address the safety need of the CNG / NGV industry if the requirements are followed strictly. It is the non-compliances to these standards and regulations that had resulted in unsafe conditions which led to serious incidents. Why people had not complied with these standards and regulations may be due mainly to the “Ignorance Factor”. Ignorance to the serious danger posed to their life, other people life, and properties had led many vehicle owners to unknowingly purchase and install non-CNG tanks in their vehicles. Some were misled by unscrupulous workshop owners.

There is a need to address this Ignorance Factor urgently, adequately and periodically via public awareness campaigns and trainings with the involvement and support of key NGV stakeholders. ANGVA is ready to support and initiate such trainings and public awareness campaigns together with key NGV stakeholders in countries around Asia Pacific region. However, without the involvement and support from key NGV stakeholders such trainings and public awareness campaigns will not be able to be implemented effectively.

As part of its training initiatives, ANGVA is organising CNG Cylinder Safety Workshops in Dhaka, Bangladesh (23^rd November 2008) and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (27^th November 2008). Details of these workshops can be viewed at our website http://www.angva.org/. We hope key NGV stakeholders will take these opportunities to support these safety workshops and also other programmes that ANGVA will be initiating.