Fiberglass cylinder sale at food stores banned

The Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs has directed all municipalities in the Kingdom to ban the display and sale of all fiberglass cooking gas cylinders at food supplies centers and fuel stations. The ministry issued this directive with the objective of ensuring the safety and health of citizens and foreigners.
The directive follows the framework of an existing cooperation between the ministry and concerned agencies of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Saudi Arabian Standards Organization and Civil Defense Directorate.
Saudi Arabia was the first country in the region to introduce these fiberglass cooking gas cylinders. The cylinders were first launched in Riyadh, followed by neighboring regions a few months later.
Despite the amazing advantage of being both lighter and safer than traditional metal cylinders, most people in Riyadh reported they are reluctant to buy the new cylinders citing their high cost as the main factor. The new cylinders are priced at SR 350 and SR 15 for gas filling.
The cylinders are manufactured by the Norwegian company Ragasco, and distributed in the Kingdom solely by the Alkhobar based Leyan Al-Sharq Trading Co. The company officials claim the fiberglass cylinders are 100 percent explosion-proof, rust-proof, and as strong as metal cylinders. A filled fiberglass cylinder weighs just 16 kg as opposed to a metal cylinder weighing 27.4 kg.
Authorities had disclosed earlier that the fiberglass cylinders were not intended as a replacement of existing metal cylinders and that both types would be available at gas distribution outlets.