The government plans to replace metal gas cylinders used by households and restaurants in the far South with fibreglass ones for security reasons -- but the move has been met with resistance from local businesses.
The Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc) Forward Command for Region 4 says it backs government moves to replace metal cylinders with those made of composite materials.
The metal cylinders have been stolen by insurgents who modify them into bombs which have been launched on many occasions across the far South.
The new cylinders, with multi-layered skins made of polymer and fibreglass, will cause less damage if they are turned into improvised bombs.
The composite gas containers are stronger, more durable and more resistant to heat than the conventional cylinders, according to the command. They also are not prone to creating sparks when they shift around during delivery.
The composite materials do not explode but melt when exposed to heat. The new cylinders last longer as they do not rust or corrode and are lighter than the metal ones.
However, the composite containers, weighing about 6.5 kilogrammes, hold a maximum 11kg of gas while the 16.5kg metal cylinders can hold up to 15kg of gas each.
The command and the energy offices in Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat have ordered the metal gas cylinders to be phased out by Sept 30.
The proposed introduction of the composite cylinders, however, has been met with opposition by food shops and restaurants in Narathiwat.
The owner of a noodle shop in Soi Pracha Pirom in downtown Pattani, who asked to be identified as Pa Ord, said it would cost the gas refilling businesses a lot of money to replace the cylinders and the extra expense might be passed to customers, who are the households and restaurants.
The cylinders remain the property of the gas refilling shops which deliver the gas-filled containers. When the gas runs out, the shops take the containers back, replenish the gas and put them on sale again.
Pa Ord said metal cylinders are more practical because they hold more gas. Customers prefer them as they are made of metal, and presumably stronger. The smaller composite cylinders will also need refilling more often, which is inconvenient and disruptive especially to food retailing businesses.
Sakultham Damsuwan, manager of the Nara Petroleum Co, said many gas refilling proprietors could not afford the replacements. He was not confident the measure would help ease violence in the far South.