The distribution of gas will return to normal today after both suppliers agreed to temporarily stop distributing gas using their own trucks, bringing to an end a three-day unofficial strike that frustrated thousands of consumers.
Distributors halted gas delivery on Monday and gathered at the Qajjenza gas depot, blocking the gate and barring Liquigas trucks from supplying customers with gas.
They complained that, last week, Liquigas had done door-to-door deliveries in Sliema and other localities in flagrant breach of an agreement the distributors signed in 1992 when they were given territorial exclusivity on gas distribution.
Yesterday, for the third day running, the distributors assembled at Qajjenza in the morning with their trucks but could not block the gate again because the police were on site. The distributors, however, still served customers who turned up with their empty cylinders and gladly exchanged it for a full tank.
A meeting between the Chamber of Small and Medium Enterprises – GRTU, representing the distributors, and Resources Minister George Pullicino, was initially delayed because the government did not want to starts negotiations while the action was still ongoing. On their part, the distributors refused to lift their action unless they had a guarantee from the two gas suppliers that they would not continue to use their own trucks to distribute gas even as the talks took place. The newcomer to the gas scene, Easygas, almost immediately obliged, with Liquigas following suit after a few hours.
The meeting was held at midday and a government statement confirmed both operators had agreed that the distributors would load both their cylinders on the trucks.
The action was taken in protest against a legal notice issued in October 2008 that opened up the distribution of gas to anyone in possession of a Malta Resources Authority permit. This, the distributors claimed, was in breach of the 1992 agreement giving them territorial exclusivity and was damaging their sales and livelihood.
Earlier yesterday, Liquigas said it had resorted to direct sales in Sliema because of poor service from the area distributor. The company holds a licence to sell gas directly. It said it had made practical proposals to the government and distributors based on the principle that “its clients are to be constantly well-served”.
The Consumers’ Association said the system whereby gas distributors sold the cylinders supplied by all companies should be retained but proper standards of service had to be maintained.
One of the proposals under discussion is for the dominant operator – in this case Liquigas, which has been around longer than Easygas – to have a dedicated service with another for multi-flagged cylinder distribution. In both cases, the distribution services will be offered by the current gas distributors.