Updated: Distribution of gas cylinders resumes

Door-to-door gas distribution resumed this morning after arrangements worked out between Liquigas and the distributors, the GRTU said this afternoon.

Many distributors had been unable to get refilled gas cylinders since the middle of last week because of a shortage of cylinders which Liquigas blamed on hoarding by rival Easygas.

The GRTU said it had had a meeting with Liquigas where it was agreed that enough cylinders were now available to supply the whole of Malta.

The GRTU recalled that the Resources Authroity had given the two operators up to tomorrow to return each other's gas cylinders.

Liquigas has said it does not hold any Easygas cylinders.

The MRA had also asked the distributors to declare how many empty cylinders they had in their possession.

The GRTU said it was continuing to call for changes to legal notices regulating the distribution of gas. It said the MRA needed to ensure that no further shortages of cylinders came about.

LIQUIGAS IMPORTS MORE GAS CYLINDERS

Liquigas in a statement said distribution could resume because it had urgently imported a quantity of gas cylinders, which were immediately filled and handed to the distributors. They were also given a small number of cylinders which were made available at Qajjenza.The current situation, however, would not be solved until the authorities stopped Easygas from hoarding cylinders which did not belong to it and until the hoarded cylinders were returned.