Following the tragic fire incident that claimed three lives and left scores of others injured, the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) has finally issued a statement addressing the public's concerns and questions surrounding the LPG explosion in Embakasi, Nairobi County.

The statement details a series of permit applications submitted for an LPG storage and filling plant at the site of the explosion.

EPRA clarifies that all three applications, received in March, June, and July of 2023, were rejected due to failing to meet safety criteria, particularly regarding population density and blast radiation risk.

"Applications for construction permits for a Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) storage and filling plant at the site were received by EPRA on 19th March 2023, 20th June 2023, and 31st July 2023. All applications were rejected as they did not meet the set criteria for an LPG storage and filling plant in that area," EPRA stated.

"The main reason for the rejection was failure of the designs to meet the safety distances stipulated in the Kenya Standard. EPRA noted the high population density around the proposed site and the applicant was requested to submit a Qualitative Risk Assessment clearly indicating the radiation blast profiles in the unfortunate case of an explosion like the one that happened yesterday."

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The authority emphasizes that the applicant failed to provide a crucial Qualitative Risk Assessment (QRA) despite being explicitly requested.

This document, essential for evaluating potential blast impact on surrounding areas, was absent from all applications, ultimately leading to their rejection.

In response to the incident and public outcry, EPRA outlines several immediate and long-term measures aimed at ensuring nationwide LPG safety. These include:

Technical audits: All licensed LPG plants will undergo thorough inspections to assess their safety integrity in terms of Health, Safety, Security, and Environment (HSSE).

License revocations: Plants failing to meet the required HSSE standards will face license revocation.

Surveillance and enforcement: Increased vigilance against illegal plants and malpractice within the sector, including demolitions of unauthorized facilities.

Below is the entire statement by EPRA:


While EPRA's statement offers some clarity regarding permit applications and safety measures, lingering questions remain.

Did the applicant attempt to bypass regulations? Were there additional red flags missed? Was this tragedy preventable?

As investigations continue, the public awaits further answers and assurances from EPRA to rebuild trust and prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.