Coopegas had been operating for more than 40 years. It is now known that the cooperative was in flagrant violation of the law. On 3 October 2020, a blast at the Coopegas propane gas selling station in Licey al Medio, Santiago resulted in the death of 11, most neighbors of the propane gas plant. An investigation later showed negligence on behalf of the operators and the authorities at the Ministry of Industry & Commerce. There was little if any regulation in place at the propane gas operation.
The cooperative is incorporated under not-for-profit laws that enabled it to not declare taxes on profits. Santiago prosecutor Francisco Núñez remarked that despite being 40 years old, the cooperative still had only the original 91 members.
Núñez told journalists on Monday, 2 November 2020 that the manager Ramón Vasquez Sandoval; operations manager Roberto Polanco Marte; Licey al Medio station manager Emilio Yan and Coopegas president Audilio Concepción are charged in the case. As reported, prominent criminal lawyer Carlos Salcedo will be carrying the case for Coopegas.
The explosion caused the death of 11 people, while others remain in critical condition.
The investigations indicates human and mechanical failures were responsible for the deaths during the explosion at the propane gas vending operation.
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Diario Libre
N Digital
2 November 2020