RISK ASSESSMENT FOR THE ADOPTION AND USAGE OF LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS IN DIVERSIFYING ENERGY SOURCES IN MALAWI.

This research paper assessed the risk associated with the adoption and usage of LPG by mainly focusing on how these risks affects or will affect the adoption and usage rate.
Incorporating different approaches and methods like compliance safety audits, GIS mapping of distribution network, interviews and surveys, literature review and secondary data analysis, this study shows that they are mainly two hazards evidenced by the gas retailers which are and will be affecting the adoption and usage of LPG if not really taken care of and these are fire hazards and chemical release hazards (Gas leakages), And it has been found that the consumer base currently are the elite people which are mostly in the urban areas, and for this fact most of them are busy people they fail and mostly don’t like to spare some time to go through LPG safe use trainings which pose a threat on safety.
Taking into account that safety comes at a cost, as the LPG market is broadening, safety is being weakened as evidenced by the increase in number of accidents over recent years.
Negligence and safety ignorance have been identified as the parameters enhancing accident growth rate and on the other hand accessibility, availability and awareness are the drivers for the increasing adoption and usage rate (LPG consumption). Perception towards safety of LPG is one of the factors which is hindering the adoption and usage of LPG and that’s the increase in number of accidents over the years will definitely affect the adoption and usage rate. There has to be serious care in the handling, storage, distribution and use of LPG in order to maximize safety and increase the adoption and usage rate by other and already existing consumers. Different Gas retailers experience different type of accident but overall the causative agent are just the same but magnitude of effect and the probability of occurrence depend on the safety guidelines that the company is following.
This paper suggests that in order for the safety issue to be addressed, more compliance audits should be done so that safety measures should be promoted and also LPG business or sector should be well monitored the way other petroleum products are taken serious of. And safety should be the first priority before anything else no matter what the cost it brings then will have a zero accident LPG environment or accident free industry, hence the adoption and usage rate will surely increase.

Incorporating different approaches and methods like compliance safety audits, GIS mapping of distribution network, interviews and surveys, literature review and secondary data analysis, this study shows that they are mainly two hazards evidenced by the gas retailers which are and will be affecting the adoption and usage of LPG if not really taken care of and these are fire hazards and chemical release hazards (Gas leakages), And it has been found that the consumer base currently are the elite people which are mostly in the urban areas, and for this fact most of them are busy people they fail and mostly don’t like to spare some time to go through LPG safe use trainings which pose a threat on safety. Perception towards safety of LPG is one of the factors which is hindering the adoption and usage of LPG and that’s the increase in number of accidents over the years will definitely affect the adoption and usage rate. This paper suggests that in order for the safety issue to be addressed, more compliance audits should be done so that safety measures should be promoted and also LPG business or sector should be well monitored the way other petroleum products are taken serious of. And safet

This research was carried out in Blantyre City located in the Shire highlands in the southern region of Malawi surrounded by four mountains with varying topography. This area was chosen because is commercial city of Malawi.

District: Blantyre

Coordinates: -15.6817, 34.92535