Easygas, the new gas provider, is hoarding between 4,000 and 6,000 cylinders belonging to Liquigas, according to a spokesman for this company, causing the working stock to be “severely depleted” and the market to lack cylinders.
The Chamber of Small and Medium Enterprises – GRTU complained that this lack of stock was prolonging the time distributors had to wait for supplies.
When contacted, a Liquigas spokesman accused its rival Easygas of being mainly responsible for a lack of cylinders on the market because it had been hoarding thousands of green and yellow cylinders.
Liquigas, he said, had placed 56,000 new cylinders on the market since 2009.
The problem began in January when Easygas started accepting empty yellow, green or brown Liquigas cylinders in exchange for its new grey ones at no extra cost if consumers wanted to switch suppliers. The move was made after Liquigas decided customers who wanted to return empty cylinders had to present their receipt to receive their full €25 refund, where this amount applied. Otherwise, they would only be given a €5 refund.
Easygas had said the Liquigas decision was creating a hurdle for customers to switch and went against the spirit of free competition.
The matter is being contested legally in a case before the First Hall of the Civil Court, where Liquigas is demanding the return of the cylinders.
However, “every day that passes the situation is getting worse”, the Liquigas spokesman said, because Easygas was collecting and hoarding its cylinders. Last Friday, Liquigas called on the authority to take action against Easygas.
In a statement yesterday, the GRTU complained that gas distributors had to wait up to eight hours outside the Liquigas plant in Qajjenza to be given new supplies because of a shortage of gas cylinders.
It said this situation was due to the government’s lack of serious preparation for the market’s liberalisation, particularly in the distribution system.
The GRTU praised Liquigas for going beyond its business and economic duty to ensure its customers were well served, adding that Easygas was hoarding cylinders with the clear purpose of harming competition.
When contacted, a spokesman for Easygas said he did not wish to comment on the situation, adding that company lawyers would be replying in the coming days.