The Hindu : Front Page : For LPG in fibreglass cylinders

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Saturday, Feb 02, 2008
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For LPG in fibreglass cylinders

Sujay Mehdudia

Norwegian company set to push lightweight composite cylinders

Cylinders weigh half that of normal steel cylinders
Are stylish, safe, easy to handle and non-corrosive

The fibreglass cylinder

NEW DELHI: Lightweight and transparent composite cylinders for liquefied petroleum gas, termed the 21st century LPG cylinders, are all set to hit the Indian market. Attracted by the expanding Indian market, a Norwegian company, Ragasco, has obtained the approval of the Chief Controller of Explosives to set up business in the country.

Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Murli Deora, who met a representative of the company during a recent visit to London, said he had asked the oil marketing companies to examine the feasibility of introducing the advanced technological innovation in India. Ragasco, the pioneer of this technology, is contemplating setting up a joint venture in the country.

Oyvind Hamre, managing director of Ragasco, and Hans Henrik Larsen, sales director, met Mr. Deora in London to explain the salient features of the venture.

“I have invited the company representatives to visit India and explore possibilities of a joint venture to set up a manufacturing facility,” the Minister said.

It is learnt that officials of Indian Oil, Hindustan Petroleum and Bharat Petroleum have visited the company’s facility in Norway to have a look at the new technology.

The new fibreglass cylinders are are lightweight, easy to handle and safe. They weigh 50 per cent less than the steel cylinders now in use and will not corrode.

The design is stylish and one can even view the level of liquefied gas inside.

Ragasco has marketed 3,00,000 cylinders in European countries including France, Portugal and the U.K. and has received product approvals in the U.S., Canada, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Indonesia and Australia.

India has over 150 million LPG cylinders and on an average seven million cylinders are circulated in the market every year.

Ragasco manufactures cylinders ranging from 5 kg to 14 kg by weight.

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