Gas fuels industry committed to maintaining supplies during COVID-19 pandemic
2 April 2020
"Australia's downstream gas fuels industry is committed to maintaining supplies during the current COVID-19 pandemic", John Griffiths, CEO of its peak body, Gas Energy Australia (GEA), said today.
Over two million Australian households and businesses, including hospitals and aged care facilities, depend on Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) for indoor cooking, hot water and warmth. This is especially so in regional and remote areas, and will increase as winter approaches. And this is in addition to the roughly nine million LPG outdoor leisure cylinders in Australia. LPG Autogas also fuels over 350,000 light vehicles, many of which can only run on this fuel.
Also, many Australian businesses have invested in stationary energy and transport applications that depend on Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG).
Mr Griffiths said "the gas fuels industry welcomes Australian Governments' acknowledgement that the provision of these fuels, in tanks mostly transported by road, is an essential service.
It is important that Australian Governments also recognise the critical role played by all businesses in the industry's supply chain. These include trucking and gas tank and equipment maintainers, repairers and suppliers that support the gas fuels distribution network all the way through to the consumer. This is the same as the role played by the companies that maintain, repair and replace the electricity sector's poles and wires.
In response to the pandemic, the gas fuels industry has put in place a range of procedures to ensure the health and safety of its employees and the community. These include:
- curtailing non-essential travel and working from home for personnel within businesses who can do so;
* changing the ways employee interface with customers during operational activities (eg, no longer requiring a signature when exchanging cylinders at residential premises);
* implementing a range of sanitising and cleaning measures for trucks and equipment; and
* ensuring sufficient supplies of personal protective equipment, sanitising and cleaning products.
GEA will also continue to work with Australian Governments to ensure the supply of gas fuels continues to be recognised as an essential service and measures to contain the spread of COVID-19 such as border controls, are as consistent as possible and do not unduly restrict the industry's ability to supply its customers.
"Not all energy comes through a wire or a pipe and it is imperative that the gas fuels supply chain is maintained for those Australian families and businesses that depend on it as a source of energy, especially in remote and regional areas" Mr Griffiths concluded.
Media contact: John Griffiths 0439344622
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