Kipevu LPG plant in fresh hurdle as residents protest
The construction of 30,000 tonnes Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) plant in Kipevu is facing at a new hurdle after hundreds of local residents vowed to block its construction, citing environmental concerns.
Some of the residents bordering the Focus Container Freight Station where the plant will be built, held demonstrations yesterday to petition the National Assembly committee on Environment and that of Energy to intervene and save them from what they term as a “disaster in waiting.”
The terminal will stand on a seven-hectare land and will have six liquefied petroleum gas Horton Spheres each with a capacity of 5,000 cubic metres with 16 trucks at a time loading facility, a filling point, hydrant location, jetty, piping and an office. Michael Nato of Chaani-Community-based organisation claims the local administration is helping the firm continue with the project despite protests from the residents
Nato said they had asked the National Environment Management Authority (Nema) not to approve the project because it could displace about 10,000 people living in the area to create a buffer zone for the LPG gas investment.
“We presented a petition to Nema and the area administration demanding that they stop the project but our cry has been heeded. There was no public participation and if any was done, they hired people so that they could accept the project,” said Nato.
The gas storage plant, once built, will operate under the name Focus LPG terminal.
