Liquigas has instructed its distributors to start collecting Easygas grey gas cylinders and exchange them for its yellow or green ones, according to the Chamber of Small and Medium Enterprises – GRTU.

The GRTU, which represents the distributors, said it had been informed by Liquigas that, although it did not agree with the exchange of gas cylinders, until the regulatory authorities decided on this aspect, it was authorising distributors to accept Easygas cylinders in return for its own.

When contacted, a spokesman for Liquigas said the company did not want to confirm, deny or comment on the GRTU’s statement.

Easygas started the practice seven months ago, leading Liquigas to claim this had depleted its working stock.

For the past seven months, Liquigas has called for the Malta Resources Authority to act against Easygas for hoarding thousands of its cylinders.

In May, the authority instructed Easygas to return them to its competitor and imposed a €25,000 fine in default. However, Easygas has so far defied the order.

Easygas had justified accepting the competitor’s cylinders after Liquigas announced it would only refund people their €25 deposit on the cylinders if they still had the original receipt, which most consumers did not keep.

Easygas offered customers and easier way out by accepting yellow and green cylinders owned by Liquigas and exchanging them for its grey cylinders.

When contacted on this latest development, a spokesman for Easygas said the company had no comments to make at this stage.