Old
And
Leaky Gas Regulators Continue In Use In
Kitchens In Costa Rica
Using Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) in the
kitchen can be risky business in Costa Rica
for a lack of modern regulations allows the
use of old or worn out gas valves and
cylinders unchecked. The worse part is that
almost 90% of CNG sold in Costa Rica is for
residential use, most of that used in the
kitchen to cook.
This we found out last week when, for some
reason, the local "pulperia" in Santa Ana
did not put up a fuss and quickly replaced
the partly empty cylinder for a new one,
checking first to ensure that the valve
worked on the new cylinder.
The decision to return the cylinder to the
place of purchase was made after days of
attempts to install the snap on gas
regulator, which continually leaked.
Purchasing a new gas regulator did not
resolve the problem, so it had to be the
cylinder.
The situation, as we learned, is common for
pulperias were most of the gas cylinders are
bought and sold, throughout the country.
This is all the more worrisome as the type
of gas regulator sold in Costa Rica, the
blue type that has a quick connect, were
discarded in the United States, Europe and
many other countries around the world, for
their propensity to leak.
The government has been working on a new
regulation that would control the type and
maintenance of gas cylinders, regulators, as
well as the distribution and transport of
CNG.
According to the Cuerpo de Bomberos (Fire
Department), the gas regulator is the major
cause of gas leaks in the country.
Bomberos statistics reveal that in 2008 they
responded to 1.365 emergency calls for gas
leaks in kitchens, each call costing the
Bomberos ¢150.000 colones.
The numbers aren't that better this year, as
the Bomberos reports 1.331 emergencies so
far and all for the same reason, a faulty
gas regulator which costs ¢4.995 to replace.
The new regulation would eliminate the
snap-on gas regulator for a screw in type,
the same type used in gas bbq's. The change
would eliminate the leak as well as the
insecurity and risk of a serious accident as
many gas tanks are kept in non ventilated
closed quarters for lack of space.
Many of the homes in areas like Desamparados
and Alajuelita, areas where homes are one on
top of the other, or in places like downtown
San José housing many of the "cuarterias"
(flop housing and tenement), where the
majority use gas in the kitchen.
Many Costa Ricans prefer to cook with gas
due to the price of the appliances - a gas
stove is up to half price of an electric
stove, doesn't require 200 volt service and
connection and many feel that gas cooking is
better.
Julio Matamoros, viceministro de Miniserio
de Ambiente, Energía y Telecomunicaciones (MINAET),
explains that the new regulations are in the
public hearing process and that it won't be
until next year before any regulation can be
in place.
Matamoros acknowledges that the MINAET
itself has been a source of much of the
delay.
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The type of gas regulator used in Costa Rica was discarded in the United States for its propensity to leak.
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