The GRTU has called for the involvement of the Prime Minister in the gas issue.

Liquigas yesterday announced that it had run out of cylinders, which, it said, were being hoarded by competitor Easygas.

The controversy erupted 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.

This was done after Liquigas had asked customers who wanted to return empty cylinders to present their receipt to receive the full €25 refund, where this amount applied. Otherwise, they would only get a €5 refund.

Easygas had said the Liquigas decision was creating a hurdle for customers who wanted to switch suppliers so it is 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.

Following the statement by Liquigas, the Malta Resources Authority instructed Liquigas and Easygas to declare, within one day, how many gas cylinders belonging to the other company they had in their possession, and where they were being held.

It had also told them to return the empty cylinders, without payment, within five days.

The GRTU said that no attention was being given to the distribution system, which was based on an organisation of 30 self-employed distributors who daily served Maltese households and businesses through their own investment.

It appealed for the Prime Minister's involvement and said that a fundamental principle was that whenever who was in charge introduced a reform, one had to ensure that this was progressive rather than regressive.