EMRC approves using plastic gas cylinders for households

AMMAN — The Energy and Minerals Regulatory Commission (EMRC) on Tuesday announced the adoption of plastic gas cylinders for household use.

These cylinders will be available as an optional alternative alongside the traditional metal cylinders currently used in homes, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.   

This decision aligns with technological advancements in gas filling, storage, and distribution, aiming to enhance safety standards, sustainability in energy resource utilisation, and provide more efficient solutions for consumers while improving quality of life.  

The commission said that its board of commissioners approved the amended regulations for the distribution and storage of gas cylinders.  

EMRC stressed that introducing this type of cylinder, the first of its kind in Jordan, will benefit all stakeholders, including citizens, industry workers, and investors alike.

The new household gas cylinder has a capacity of 12.5 kilogrammes of gas, matching that of the traditional metal cylinder.

 Its adoption follows extensive consultations with stakeholders and experts, in-depth studies, and a review of global best practices, the commission said.

 Since 2018, the EMRC has conducted meetings and discussions with representatives from the oil and natural gas sectors to develop regulatory guidelines in line with the technical standards of the Jordan Standards and Metrology Organisation.

 These standards comply with international specification ISO 11119. 

Tests conducted by the Royal Scientific Society have confirmed the quality of the plastic cylinders, including explosion resistance, fragmentation control, pressure endurance and heat tolerance.  

The commission outlined several advantages of plastic gas cylinders, including high durability, enhanced safety features, and lightweight design, empty cylinders weigh only 5.3 kilogrammes compared to 17 kilogrammes for metal cylinders.

The "high-quality" materials of the plastic cylinders contribute to lower carbon emissions, improved environmental sustainability, and enhanced recyclability, making them an eco-friendly alternative to traditional metal cylinders, the EMRC noted.