Afrox has ensured a plentiful supply of Handigas is available for the critical cold snaps with the signing of major import agreement with Petredec Limited, one of the largest global traders in Liquefied Petroleum Gas. Petredec is a global LPG trader which buys, sells, transports, stores and distributes LPG, buying from over 70 LPG suppliers worldwide. Its regional storage hub in Mauritius has a total capacity of 15 000 metric tonnes and is the largest land-based LPG storage facility in sub-Saharan Africa.

Petredec and Afrox are using Bidvest Tank Terminals’ facilities in Richards Bay for LPG imports, which are transported to filing sites via road tankers and rail. Under the contract, Petredec is committed to shipping LPG on demand to Afrox.

“Afrox now has the flexibility to import large volumes at short notice when faced with short-term unplanned local supply shortages,” said Afrox Managing Director, Schalk Venter. Shortages have plagued South Africa in previous winters due to local production shortfalls and increased demand for LPG as an alternative energy source for heating, cooking, hot water, braaing, camping, hiking purposes and domestic LPG power generators. “While we have ensured the increased availability of Handigas and new cylinder stocks, we would encourage customers to change-out their empty cylinders timeously and avoid any last minute rush which creates supply chain bottlenecks,” said Mark Radford, Head LPG at Afrox.

If customers don’t purchase Handigas at an Afrox Gas & Gear, they are advised to check for the Afrox branded and coded red seal on the valve of Handigas cylinders, which assures all safety checks have been done, that the cylinder has been correctly filled to the right quantity of gas, and that quality is guaranteed.

"Afrox takes the utmost care to test and maintain our stockpile of Handigas cylinders to ensure the safety of our customers by meeting all the legal requirements of a legitimate and responsible company," confirmed Radford.

Handigas is available through an extensive Afrox network of Gas & Gear sales centres, and at selected Builders Warehouses and Build It hardware stores as well as a national network of approved Afrox distributors. To find your nearest retail centre call the Afrox Customer Service Centre on 0860 020202, or go to afroxhandigas.co.za to search for Handigas availability by region, city and cylinder size.