Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, with your permission, I shall reply to this Parliamentary Question. At the outset, I have to highlight that there is a significant regulatory and operational inconsistency regarding the use of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) propelled vehicles in Mauritius. While the National Land Transport Authority (NLTA) does not prohibit the conversion of petrol or diesel vehicles to LPG, there is currently no LPG dispensing stations across the island. The systemic gap has inadvertently given rise to the highly unsafe and illegal practice of decanting subsidised domestic gas cylinders to refill vehicles. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, with regard to part (a) of the question, I am informed by the NLTA and the Commissioner of Police that to date, there have been no officially reported cases of an LPG powered vehicle catching fire as a result of a road accident. However, the Ministry of Financial Services has informed that as per information at its end, there has been one case of an LPG powered vehicle which caught fire on being involved in a road accident in the course of the past two years. I am further informed by the Mauritius Fire and Rescue Services that 11 LPG powered vehicles have been involved in fire incidents for the period 2024 to date, irrespective of cause as follows – • In 2024, two incidents; • In 2025, seven incidents, and • In 2026, up to 25 May 2026, two incidents. With regard to part (b) of the question, I am advised there are currently 15,696 vehicles registered as operating with LPG propulsion systems. Any vehicle fitted with a gas propulsion system undergoes inspection at the authorised vehicles examination stations. They are strictly required to comply with the Sixth Schedule of the Road Traffic Construction and Use of Vehicles Regulation 2010, which mandates comprehensive technical and safety standards for gas containers, pipelines, valves and pressure relief systems. Certificates of fitness are issued under compliance with the regulations. However, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I must clarify a critical caveat. Private cars under seven years old fitted with LPG system are not legally bound to undergo annual fitness test. Consequently, they may not be captured in the 15,696 figures as amendments to the registration book horsepower are only made when the owner formally notifies the NLTA. Mr Deputy Speaker, sir, turning to part (c) of the question, the NLTA maintains that the primary responsibility rests on vehicle owners to ensure their LPG systems remain leak-free and meticulously maintained in accordance with the law. To curb the abuse of subsidised fuel, the Government has in place a strict legal framework. In fact, by virtue of the Consumer Protection Fixed Penalty Notice Regulation 2020, offenders are liable to the payment of fixed penalty of Rs10,000 for misusing domestic LPG cylinders for commercial purposes, which includes illegal decanting. Furthermore, the Consumer Protection Use of Liquefied Petroleum Gas in Small Cylinders Regulation 2012 provides for penalties ranging from Rs10,000 to Rs75,000 for repeat offences such as unauthorised storage or selling more than four cylinders at a time. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, despite the high volume of LPG propelled vehicles on our roads, only 22 cases of illegal decanting have been formally reported to the Ministry of Commerce and Consumer Protection from November 2024 to date. These cases have been referred to the Mauritius Police Force for prosecutions. The Ministry of Commerce and Consumer Protection is concurrently also intensifying its field inspections, enforcement operations and targeted awareness campaigns, particularly aimed at fuel retailers. Nevertheless, a clear anomaly remains. There is an urgent need for the Ministry of Land Transport and my substantive Ministry to collaborate closely with all relevant stakeholders to resolve this operational gap swiftly and permanently. Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir.

Yes, hon. Jugurnauth!

In regards to the refilling of these cars, can the hon. Minister inform the House where are the sites to refill?

In fact, there are no sites for refilling. All these are illegal.

You have a question? Okay!

Merci, M. le président. Monsieur le ministre, vous avez dit qu'on a 15 610 véhicules équipés avec le kit. Il y a pas de station pour faire le refilling. Mais comment ont-ils pu importer ce kit-là pour le mettre dans leurs voitures?

In fact, in the past, there were filling station who were supplying LPG gas to cars. However, let us say, five years back, the price of LPG gas has gone down in Mauritius to the tune of Rs190, people stopped going to filling station. So, they went through illegal supplying of LPG gas. This is what happened. I have to say that my Ministry is coming up with a smart card so that each person will have only two LPG gas per month. After that, they will have to pay the regular price which will be the cost price of the LPG gas which will be will be around Rs600.

The hon. Third Member for Port Louis North and Montagne Longue! GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS – SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEMS – INSTALLATION