Gas shortage 'is over'

About 4,500 gas cylinders were bought from various distribution points around Malta on Sunday and another 4,000 cylinders were shipped to Gozo, ending the gas shortage, Enemalta said.

Problems have afflicted gas distribution for the past few weeks, first with a shortage of gas cylinders and later of gas itself, sparking a deluge of complaints from consumers.

The problem was finally resolved on Saturday when a ship carrying 1,900 tonnes of LPG sailed in and 8,500 cylinders were filled on Sunday and distributed later in the day.

Another consignment of gas is expected to arrive in the first week of March, Enemalta said.

Over the weekend the corporation also received 13,500 cylinders to meet consumers' demand for both new and replacement cylinders.

Long queues could be seen at the various distribution areas - the Gas Division in Birzebbuga, the Luxol Ground in St Andrew's, at Burmarrad, near the Santa Maria Addolorata Cemetery and at the Xewkija and San Lawrenz distribution centres in Gozo. Distribution had been cancelled on Saturday because no gas was available.

A spokesman for Enemalta said door-to-door gas delivery was resumed normally yesterday. He said the corporation currently had 3,000 pending bookings for the purchase of new cylinders, adding the demand was expected to be met within the next two days.

"We are simplifying the old system of booking cylinders for new services. Consumers will be able to buy a new cylinder simply by asking for one from any of the distributors or from the gas depot in Birzebbuga," he said.

He encouraged consumers not to hoard cylinders as the recent shortage was unlikely to happen again. Customers can only buy one new cylinder (as opposed to a replacement one) for the time being, he said.

The Malta Chamber for Small and Medium Enterprises - GRTU said gas distributors were not responsible for the shortage.