JSMO warns public of 'manipulated gas cylinders'

 The Jordan Standards and Metrology Organisation (JSMO), in cooperation with the Public Security Directorate (PSD), identified manipulated gas cylinders in the Zarqa Governorate, as reported by the Jordan News Agency, Petra.

"Citizens are advised to weigh the cylinders when bought from a distributor; the net weight of a cylinder is 12.5kg of liquefied gas plus the weight of an empty cylinder," JSMO Spokesperson Salem Jbour told The Jordan Times. 

Each gas cylinder should be sealed and stamped by the Jordan Petroleum Refinery, Jbour continued, adding that they advise consumers to order cylinders from authorised gas cylinder distributors.

Every area in the Kingdom has certain authorised distributors, Jbour said, advising the public to keep the name and number of the distributor, as well as a copy of the distributor’s truck plate number. 

Jbour noted that the public can file complaints on the JSMO Facebook page or can call 06-5301243. They can also file a complaint through the government’s complaint management application "bekhedmetkum".

The JSMO conducts regular inspection tours in gas cylinder filling stations and distribution centres, and on gas cylinders pickups to ensure the safety of the cylinders, their valves and the weight of gas cylinders, according to the JSMO website.

The average weight of an empty gas cylinder is 14 kilos. However, some cylinders weigh up to 18 kilos, said Anas Abbadi, a gas cylinders distributor.

Abbadi noted that the weight of the empty cylinders is always stamped on each cylinder.

"I think that we need additional control measures when it comes to gas cylinders," Sandra Kupti, a homemaker, told The Jordan Times.

Kupti thinks that all distributors should be monitored and operating under one umbrella. The government "should use technology to monitor and track the whole process of distribution", she said.

"Safe storage and handling of gas cylinders is another issue, guidelines need to be followed in order to protect people, property and the environment from emergencies involving gas cylinders," Kupti concluded.