Latest news with #Tromp
The Citizen
06-07-2025
- Automotive
- The Citizen
LPG refilling scams endanger lives and public safety
Many South Africans rely on liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) for heating and cooking, particularly in winter. LPG is a cleaner and safer energy source when used correctly. However, discounted cylinder refills can pose serious risks to health, property and financial security. Jeremie Tromp of Easigas said the danger lies not in the gas, but in how some cylinders are refilled. Only trained and certified professionals are legally permitted to refill gas cylinders and must follow strict safety protocols while doing so. But Tromp said illegal operators bypass these standards, offering cheap refills by cutting corners and tampering with the cylinder contents. 'Overfilled cylinders build dangerous pressure and become unstable. Even small impacts, heat or rough handling can lead to gas leaks or explosions,' Tromp said. Another concern is contamination, Tromp warned. ALSO READ: City of Ekurhuleni breaks down new electricity costs for residents 'Illegal operators often add water, paraffin or other substances to increase cylinder weight. These mixtures burn inefficiently, damage appliances and compromise seals, creating hidden leaks that might go undetected until it's too late,' he said. In some cases, cylinders are underfilled to appear like a bargain, but consumers end up paying more due to frequent refills. 'Contaminated gas can also destroy appliances worth thousands of rands, and insurance claims might be denied if an investigation reveals illegal refilling.' Tromp said the danger extends beyond individual homes because illegal operators transport improperly secured cylinders on vehicles without adequate safety measures. 'A pothole or sudden turn could damage a valve, creating a mobile hazard on public roads. These operators also store hundreds of cylinders in cramped garages or makeshift workshops. One accident could devastate an entire neighbourhood. ALSO READ: Your help needed to keep trauma support SA's volunteer team strong 'Additionally, illegal operators avoid paying taxes, depriving the country of millions in revenue that could support essential infrastructure like roads, hospitals, and schools,' he says. Note these red flags: • Prices significantly below market rates; • No receipts, documentation or certification proof; • Seals that don't match the cylinder brand; • Blank or generic neck rings (legitimate cylinders display the company name, weight, serial number and country of origin); • Multiple brands delivered from the same vehicle. 'If something looks questionable, it likely is,' said Tomp. What to do if you think your cylinder was illegally refilled: • Do not ignite the gas or roughly handle the cylinder; • Contact a licensed gas supplier to safely remove and replace the cylinder or return it to the purchase point; • Report the seller to your municipality or the LP Gas Safety Association; • Alert your community through appropriate channels. 'When family safety is at stake, shortcuts can prove far more costly than any savings. Choose licensed suppliers and pay fair market prices. When protecting those you care about, the only acceptable option is the legitimate one,' Tromp concluded. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
05-07-2025
- Automotive
- The Citizen
Illegally refilled gas cylinders put you at risk
Many South Africans rely on liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) for heating and cooking, particularly in winter. LPG is a cleaner and safer energy source when used correctly. However, discounted cylinder refills can pose serious risks to health, property and financial security. Jeremie Tromp of Easigas said the danger lies not in the gas, but in how some cylinders are refilled. Only trained and certified professionals are legally permitted to refill gas cylinders and must follow strict safety protocols while doing so. But Tromp said illegal operators bypass these standards, offering cheap refills by cutting corners and tampering with the cylinder contents. 'Overfilled cylinders build dangerous pressure and become unstable. Even small impacts, heat or rough handling can lead to gas leaks or explosions,' Tromp said. Another concern is contamination, Tromp warned. 'Illegal operators often add water, paraffin or other substances to increase cylinder weight. These mixtures burn inefficiently, damage appliances and compromise seals, creating hidden leaks that might go undetected until it's too late,' he said. In some cases, cylinders are underfilled to appear like a bargain, but consumers end up paying more due to frequent refills. 'Contaminated gas can also destroy appliances worth thousands of rands, and insurance claims might be denied if an investigation reveals illegal refilling.' Tromp said the danger extends beyond individual homes because illegal operators transport improperly secured cylinders on vehicles without adequate safety measures. 'A pothole or sudden turn could damage a valve, creating a mobile hazard on public roads,' he says. 'These operators also store hundreds of cylinders in cramped garages or makeshift workshops. One accident could devastate an entire neighbourhood. 'Additionally, illegal operators avoid paying taxes, depriving the country of millions in revenue that could support essential infrastructure like roads, hospitals, and schools.' Note these red flags: • Prices significantly below market rates; • No receipts, documentation or certification proof; • Seals that don't match the cylinder brand; • Blank or generic neck rings (legitimate cylinders display the company name, weight, serial number and country of origin); • Multiple brands delivered from the same vehicle. 'If something looks questionable, it likely is,' said Tomp. What to do if you think your cylinder was illegally refilled: • Do not ignite the gas or roughly handle the cylinder; • Contact a licensed gas supplier to safely remove and replace the cylinder or return it to the purchase point; • Report the seller to your municipality or the LP Gas Safety Association; • Alert your community through appropriate channels. 'When family safety is at stake, shortcuts can prove far more costly than any savings,' Tromp concluded. 'Choose licensed suppliers and pay fair market prices. When protecting those you care about, the only acceptable option is the legitimate one.' At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Straits Times
20-06-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Dutch launch operation Orange Shield to keep NATO summit safe
Dutch soldiers work on vessel, off the coast of the Hague as Dutch air defence and command frigate 'Tromp' patrolls in the background, Netherlands June 19, 2025. REUTERS/Bart Biesemans A view shows a military vessel patrolling off the coast of the Hague, Netherlands June 19, 2025. REUTERS/Bart Biesemans A view shows military speedboat and Dutch air defence and command frigate 'Tromp' patrolling off the coast of the Hague, Netherlands June 19, 2025. REUTERS/Bart Biesemans A Dutch soldier with shoulder sleeve insigna of the upcoming 2025 NATO summit works in the control centre of Dutch frigate 'Tromp', Netherlands June 19, 2025. REUTERS/Bart Biesemans AMSTERDAM - The Netherlands has launched operation Orange Shield to protect next week's NATO summit, deploying combat helicopters, sea patrols, over 10,000 military and police personnel, bomb squads and air defence systems. About 6,000 delegates and leaders from 32 countries, including U.S. President Donald Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron, and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, will attend the closed-off event at The Hague's World Forum. The Dutch navy will deploy seven frigates as part of the country's largest security operation. "The aim is to observe everything that's happening in the area, at sea, and in the air," commander of the Tromp frigate Dennis Oorburg told Reuters. Dutch counterterrorism chief Pieter-Jaap Aalbersberg told Dutch broadcaster NOS that cybersecurity risks were also being closely monitored. Heads of state and ministers from NATO countries will arrive at Schiphol Airport on Monday and be escorted to The Hague via a secure highway corridor. On Tuesday, Dutch King Willem-Alexander will host a state dinner for NATO leaders. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who is set not to attend the summit, has also been invited to the dinner but has not yet confirmed his attendance. The summit officially begins on Wednesday, with NATO boss Mark Rutte aiming to get consensus from leaders on a 5% defence spending target, demanded by Trump. But Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has opposed the higher target. Protests are expected around the summit, including a planned highway blockade by Extinction Rebellion environmental activists and demonstrations against the war in Gaza and LGBTI+ hate speech. Police say protests will be allowed "within the limits of the law". REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Boise State's Marlene Tromp appointed next president of the University of Vermont
Boise State University President Marlene Tromp delivers her fourth state of the university address on Aug. 17, 2022. (Courtesy of John Kelly/Boise State University) This story was originally posted on on March 20, 2025. Boise State University President Marlene Tromp will become the University of Vermont's 28th president, the university's Board of Trustees announced today. She will assume the post later this summer. Tromp had led Boise State since 2019. 'It gives me great pleasure to welcome Dr. Marlene Tromp as the 28th president of the University of Vermont,' said Cynthia Barnhart, Board of Trustees chair and co-chair of the Presidential Search Advisory Committee. 'She has demonstrated excellence as a leader and a scholar who can foster deep and meaningful connections across the university and beyond.' Tromp was the lone finalist and visited UVM for an on-campus interview process on March 18-21. 'I came to Vermont with a clear feeling for UVM's strength in research, its focus on student success, and the fulfillment of its land grant mission to Vermont and the nation,' Tromp said in a press release posted on the university's website. 'This is a university that has the power to truly lead the nation and even the world on several fronts, and I'm so excited to work with my colleagues, the students, alumni, and friends to improve individual lives and the life of the community.' Tromp will succeed Suresh Garimella, who led UVM from 2019 until October 2024, when he became president of the University of Arizona. Provost Patricia Prelock has served as interim president of UVM since October. The State Board of Education is responsible for hiring a successor at Boise State. 'I want to thank her for her service to Boise State,' said State Board President Linda Clark. 'Dr. Tromp and her team found ways to significantly increase enrollment; improve student retention and graduation rates; increase fund raising and promote Boise State throughout the country – all of which are top State Board priorities. Dr. Tromp has much of which to be proud during her tenure at Boise State and I wish her the very best in the next phase of her career at the University of Vermont.' Tromp led Boise State during a period of enrollment growth — and enrollment rebound after the COVID-19 pandemic, Kevin Richert reported earlier this week. The state's largest four-year university, Boise State's fall student headcount was 27,198 last fall, up nearly 4% from 2019. Tromp also has presided over a period of growth in in-state enrollment. Boise State has also seen an improvement in graduation rates. In 2022-23, Boise State's four-year graduation rate was 42.7%, up from 38.1% three years earlier. Click here to read more about Tromp's time in Boise. Tromp posted a farewell statement to students and colleagues on Boise State's website. 'I am so proud of all that we've accomplished in the last nearly-six years, outcomes I celebrate as I prepare to wish this beloved community farewell,' she wrote. 'Boise State now has a very strong national and international presence well beyond our stellar athletics programs. … Together, we have faced real and serious challenges, and, as a community, taken them on. In an often difficult environment, we still made dazzling things happen.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
UVM is ready to announce its 28th president: What Marlene Tromp says tops her resume
Prospective University of Vermont president Marlene Tromp said she is coming to Vermont with a willingness to lead the university, and an impressive resume to back that up. Tromp began her journey into higher education as a first-generation college student, her father working "triple overtime" at his job in the coal mines to pay for her to attend Creighton University in Nebraska. Tromp, the Boise State University president, said the job she has held for the past six years was "an opportunity to help communities similar to how I grew up." Tromp is the sole finalist for the UVM presidency and spoke publicly on campus Wednesday. She received her Bachelor of Arts undergrad degree, then attended the University of Wyoming to earn a Master of Arts in English. Tromp then earned a PhD in English from the University of Florida. Tromp has been president at Boise State since July 2019 - the first woman to hold that role there. She has presided during a period of enrollment growth - the student body has grown between 20% and 50% each of the past five years - when national rates of college enrollment have declined in some places by 50%. Idaho's largest four-year university, Boise State's fall student headcount was 27,198 last fall. Boise State has also grown its research portfolio over the past five years. Research awards totaled $83 million in 2024. While student numbers have grown, Boise State has also seen an improvement in graduation rates. In 2022-23, Boise State's four-year graduation rate was 42.7%, up from 38.1% three years earlier. Other accomplishments included a campaign to raise $80 million in endowed funds, providing 1,500 scholarships. She said she was also able to keep Bosie's tuition the sixth lowest in the country. She spoke to Vermont's more rural areas when she said socioeconomic factors cannot be a roadblock to having an education. In her time at Boise, and especially since the change in the legislature in the recent months, Tromp has been at the forefront in an ongoing Statehouse debate over social justice as well as diversity, equity and inclusion. In September, an Ada County jury awarded Big City Coffee owner Sarah Jo Fendley nearly $4 million in a First Amendment lawsuit against Boise State; Tromp testified in the trial. Tromp served as provost and executive vice chancellor at the University of California, Santa Cruz, and dean at Arizona State University New College of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences. She started her career at Denison University. In a public forum Wednesday with faculty, staff and students, Tromp answered a plethora of questions. In many of her answers, she referred back to past relevant experiences in higher education institutions. She said Santa Cruz had a "profound dedication to social justice and social change." She saw that work as a commitment to excellence and a clear example of collaboration between staff and students, something she wants to bring into her time at UVM. In Arizona she served as provost and dean to a school of 170,000 students. While many were part-time, she said having to serve such a large populus forced her to be decisive and think in new ways. Arizona State University ranked No. 1 in innovation for the tenth year in a row, in the annual 'Best Colleges' 2025 rankings by U.S. News & World Report. Tromp said that experience will heed well in her approach to UVM's research focus. Sydney P. Hakes is the Burlington city reporter. Contact her at SHakes@ This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: Marlene Tromp, UVM's presidential finalist, shares her experience
