Time Technoplast, one of the manufacturers of this category of cylinders, exports almost all cylinders it makes to countries in south Asia, Africa and West Asia, among others. HPCL in a written reply to FE’s queries said it would be piloting the roll out of composite cylinders on behalf of the industry. “While all the required approvals are in place, the launch will be done shortly, on completing other requirements. The pilot launches are proposed in Ahmedabad, Mumbai/Navi Mumbai and Pune,” it said. The development comes at a time when the number of LPG users has spiked thanks to the government’s Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) which envisages to provide LPG connections to 5 crore women belonging to the below-poverty-line category. Since the launch of the scheme in May 2016, the number of beneficiaries has already crossed 2.5 crore.

The improved cylinders will also ensure lesser number of untoward incidences among the PMUY users who are using LPG for the first time. The government has taken various steps such as advertisements, safety clinics, among others, to spread awareness about safe use of LPG cylinders. Composite cylinders can be in capacities of 2kg, 3kg and 10kg, however, this is expected to cost more compared with same-sized steel cylinders. A customer makes a deposit of Rs 1,400 for 14.2kg steel cylinders at present which can go up to Rs 2,000 if fibre-made cylinders are used. Upon completion of the pilot study, which is proposed for a period of two years and basis the findings, other OMCs — Bharat Petroleum and Indian Oil — will finalise the roll out to other parts of the country.