Myriad issues between Malta’s two gas suppliers, Liquigas and Easygas, took a further twist yesterday following the publication of a legal notice concerning gas cylinder ownership.

The legal notice makes it clear that gas cylinders are owned by whoever possesses their conformity certificates and originally placed the cylinders on the market.

It also stipulates that gas suppliers must return cylinders to their rightful owners within a seven day interval, with the burden of proof resting on the supplier returning the cylinders.

In effect, the legal notice backs Liquigas’ argument that ex-Enemalta cylinders became its property the moment it took over Enemalta’s gas supply operation.

For its part, Easygas has argued that gas cylinders belong to individual customers and can therefore be exchanged with any supplier.

The legal notice comes 11 months after a cylinder ownership dispute between the two suppliers first began. It concerns several thousand ex-Enemalta cylinders and has involved both Maltese and Italian police investigations, the Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority and the Maltese law courts.

Last year, Liquigas began insisting that customers who wanted to return empty cylinders to the company would only receive their €25 refund if they presented a receipt. Customers without a receipt were offered €5.

The decision prompted protests from customers, many of whom had first received a Liquigas (ex-Enemalta) cylinder decades ago and who therefore no longer had a receipt.

Rival Easygas subsequently stepped in and began accepting yellow, brown and green Liquigas cylinders on condition that customers who handed in their cylinders switched gas supplier to them, at no extra cost.

As a result, Easygas found itself in possession of several thousand cylinders which Liquigas claimed it was “hoarding” and not entitled to keep.

The Malta Resources Authority stepped in and ordered Easygas to return the cylinders to Liquigas or face anything up to a €25,000 fine. A court procedure concerning the issue remains ongoing.

‘The client is supreme’

Liquigas subsequently charged that its rival was sending these cylinders to Italy to be sandblasted and re-sprayed dark grey before being shipped back to Malta.

For its part, Easygas admitted that it had sent cylinders to Italy but insisted that it had done so due to a lack of storage space in Malta and that it had told its ­Italian agent to refrain from re-spraying them until it was clearly established who owned the cylinders.

By stating that cylinders are owned by whoever first put them on the market, yesterday’s legal notice essentially confirms that the “hoarded” cylinders must be returned to Liquigas. It also confirms Liquigas’ offer of €5 to any customers unable to produce a deposit receipt.

When contacted, Easygas managing director Reuben Farrugia said that the company would be releasing an official reaction in the coming days, but said that “ultimately, the client is king. They will decide who is value for money and who isn’t.”

Liquigas were unavailable for comment.