Sub-Saharan gas market leader Afrox has bolstered its supply of Handigas LPG by importing stock in order to accommodate the spike in demand for the winter period. According to Afrox head of LPG Mark Radford, residential and industrial demand for LPG looks set to rise even further, especially with the ongoing threat of load shedding, as peak demand from the national grid rises.
Consumers looking to use LPG gas as an alternative energy source for heating and cooking this winter should proactively purchase their cylinders before waiting for the first cold spell of the year, which ultimately prompts shortages as a result of panic buying.
Sub-Saharan gas market leader Afrox has bolstered its supply of Handigas LPG by importing stock in order to accommodate the spike in demand for the winter period. According to Afrox head of LPG Mark Radford, residential and industrial demand for LPG looks set to rise even further, especially with the ongoing threat of load shedding, as peak demand from the national grid rises.
“Stable electricity supply remains a major concern, and it is difficult to determine precisely how much load shedding affects LPG supply and demand. We have, however, already noticed a 20 percent increase in LPG allocations since last month alone, and this is a good indication that demand for LPG is steadily rising in the build-up to winter,” he explains.
South Africa typically experiences a net shortage of LPG production every winter, and Afrox proactively addresses this issue by stockpiling imported gas throughout the year, thereby negating the seasonal shortfall. Radford adds that refinery shutdowns are another burden to LPG supply.
“Two major refineries are each undergoing two-month planned maintenance shutdowns between April and August 2015. To ensure that we are not left with a shortfall during this period, we always ensure that there is a minimum stockholding, not only to cater for planned maintenance shutdowns, but unplanned ones too. This results in stable supply and customer satisfaction,” he says.
As part of its ongoing commitment to ensuring greater stability in local LPG supply, Afrox has invested substantially in new hardware too. Radford highlights the fact that, over the past three years, the company has imported in excess of 200 000 cylinders. “This is further evidence of the growing popularity of LPG as an alternate source of energy, especially considering its recent price drops.”
Safety first
Whether refilling an LPG cylinder for residential or industrial use, Radford stresses the importance of going to authorised distributors, and thoroughly checking cylinders for authenticity. “Unfortunately, illegal fillers trick many consumers into thinking that they are authorised, due to the fact that have genuine Handigas cylinders. However, these cylinders are often illegally filled and have been found to include a mixture of other contents that make their product extremely dangerous,” he continues.
All Afrox-accredited refilled Handigas cylinders are sealed with a distinctive branded red seal, which enables the customer to identify the legitimate product instantly. What’s more, they also feature serial numbers that can be traced. Radford also warns that retail outlets that feature a mixture of different branded cylinders in one enclosure are often unauthorised too. “A legitimate distributor is unlikely to sell a number of different LPG brands.”
In order to overcome this pervasive challenge, and to ensure the highest degree of safety for its customers, Afrox offers dedicated support and advice on LPG purchases. Anyone unsure about the authenticity of their Handigas cylinder or their distributor can visit www.afrox.co.za or www.handigas.co.za. For telephonic enquiries call 0860 020202.
Ends
About Afrox
African Oxygen Limited (Afrox) is sub-Saharan Africa’s market leader in gases and welding products. Afrox was founded in 1927, listed on the JSE in 1963, and has prospered by constantly meeting the needs of customers and developing solutions that add value to customer applications. Afrox operates in South Africa and in ten other African countries. It also manages operations in five additional countries on behalf of its parent company, The Linde Group - a global gases, engineering and technology company.
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Afrox Contact
Mark Radford
Afrox Head of LPG
Phone: (011) 490 0400
Email: mark [dot] radford [at] afrox [dot] linde [dot] com
Web: www.afrox.com