In the LPG industry, your cylinders are not just containers — they are valuable business assets. Yet, for many plant operators, cylinder tracking is one of the most overlooked aspects of plant management. Cylinders move between plants, dealers, customers, and even across regions — and without a proper tracking system, it’s easy to lose sight of them.
These “small losses” can add up fast. In fact, poor cylinder tracking is one of the most common sources of financial leakage in LPG operations. Here’s why getting cylinder tracking right can save your business millions — and how PetroStack helps you do it with ease.
The Hidden Cost of Missing Cylinders
Every LPG cylinder represents an investment. A single steel cylinder can cost anywhere from ₦15,000 to ₦25,000 or more, depending on size and quality. When cylinders are lost, stolen, damaged, or unreturned — and you don’t have a system in place to monitor them — your business is essentially bleeding money without realizing it.
Now imagine this happening at scale:
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5 missing cylinders a week = 260 a year
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At ₦20,000 each, that’s ₦5.2 million lost annually
Multiply that across multiple depots, and the losses skyrocket.
This doesn’t include the added costs of:
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Customer disputes over cylinder returns
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Legal issues due to untracked assets
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Lost revenue from undelivered gas due to cylinder shortages
Operational Disruption and Inefficiency
Beyond the financial impact, inaccurate cylinder tracking causes major operational headaches. You may find yourself:
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Struggling with inventory reconciliation
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Having inconsistent records between depots and dealers
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Making poor purchasing decisions due to data gaps
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Facing delays in customer deliveries
When you don’t know where your cylinders are — or how many you really have — every part of your operation suffers. It reduces your ability to scale, plan, and respond to demand.
How Accurate Tracking Solves the Problem
A reliable cylinder tracking system gives you real-time visibility into every cylinder’s location, condition, and movement history. It enables you to:
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Know which customer or dealer is holding each cylinder
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Track returns, damages, and swaps with full accountability
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Prevent fraud or unauthorized use
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Reclaim lost or idle cylinders and maximize usage
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Strengthen your customer trust and operational transparency
With accurate data, you can take proactive steps to recover assets, improve circulation, and reduce unnecessary purchases.
How PetroStack Helps You Track with Precision
PetroStack is designed with robust cylinder tracking capabilities that go far beyond spreadsheets or manual tagging. Here’s how it works:
Lifecycle Management
Each cylinder is tracked from filling to delivery, return, servicing, and reuse — giving you a full picture of its lifecycle and location.
Customer & Dealer Accountability
PetroStack logs which party received which cylinders, under what terms (loan, deposit, etc.), and whether it has been returned or replaced.
Reporting & Alerts
Get automated reports on cylinder movements, losses, and returns. Set alerts for overdue returns or inventory shortages.
Audit Trail & History
Maintain a secure, timestamped history of every cylinder’s journey — essential for audits, disputes, and internal reviews.
The Bottom Line
Accurate cylinder tracking isn’t just about logistics — it’s about protecting your bottom line. LPG plants that take control of their cylinder assets enjoy:
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Lower operating costs
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Higher asset utilization
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Stronger customer relationships
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Greater operational control
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Fewer financial surprises
With PetroStack, you gain a powerful tool to protect your most critical assets and unlock long-term savings.
Ready to Stop the Losses?
Get a personalized demo of PetroStack and see how our cylinder tracking features can help you save millions and grow with confidence.
