The liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) business sector is calling for formal communication with Tbilisi City Hall and asking for a transition period to comply with newly enforced safety standards. According to the head of the “LPG Association,” Nika Khoperia, companies are ready to meet the new requirements and install underground LPG tanks, but the process requires time, permits, and proper coordination with municipal authorities.
Khoperia says that although the regulation has been discussed since 2020, businesses were never informed that the new rules would specifically apply to LPG stations. As a result, the recent wave of fines issued by the Municipal Inspection came as a surprise to the sector, which, he argues, occurred without prior consultation.
One of the key challenges is the infrastructural upgrade. Installing underground tanks requires obtaining permits, securing municipal approval for zoning compliance, and then ordering the tanks from manufacturers—a process that takes at least 3–4 months. Overall, businesses estimate that bringing all stations into full compliance will require 12–18 months.
Khoperia emphasizes that the sector is financially ready to invest but stresses the need for coordinated planning: “We and the municipality are in the same boat. We need to agree on how and within what timeframe these changes should be implemented. None of this can happen overnight.”
