Transporting liquefied petroleum gas (LPG)

Liquefied petroleum gases (LPG) come mainly from gas fields and less than 40% from crude oil refining. Heating petroleum produces various hydrocarbons, including around 2-3% LPG, which is lighter than pentanes, hexanes and octanes, but heavier than methane and ethane. LPGs are then stored in above-ground tanks, under embankments or caverns, and transported to the end customer.

Energy is essential to our current way of life. It's essential for getting around, cooking and heating. Liquefied petroleum gases have been part of the daily lives of more than 10 million people in France for over 70 years, as well as around the world. Their multiple uses, ease of access and environmental qualities continue to make them a key energy for today and tomorrow.

Available from over 55,000 sales outlets in France, or delivered direct to your home, LPG is accessible even in the most remote areas. A large number of storage sites ensure that resources are constantly available to ensure uninterrupted supplies, regardless of the location or scale of consumption.

In the 27,000 towns and villages where natural gas is not available - in the countryside, in the mountains or on an island, for example - LPGs can meet energy needs, whatever they may be, thanks to their availability in the form of overhead tanks or buried in the garden, cylinders or piped networks. The layout of the installation varies according to the materials and equipment used.

LPG consumed in Europe comes mainly from the UK, Norway and the Mediterranean region.

From extraction to storage to use, the transport of LPG is essential. They enable us to meet a vital requirement for the entire LPG industry: guaranteeing a regular, uninterrupted and safe supply to our customers. This article explains what LPGs are, the forms in which they are packaged and the means by which they are transported. It goes on to describe the main players in the industry, as well as the regulations and training required to transport LPG safely.

Despite this, incidents are always possible, and we'll be taking a look at recent accidents and the measures available to limit their consequences.

Finally, recent news, notably the authorization of 44 t trucks in the Highway Code, and concrete cases of difficulties will be detailed.