A court yesterday rejected a request by gas supplier Liquigas for an injunction to stop its competitor, Easygas, from collecting and storing its gas cylinders.

Mr Justice Giannino Caruana Demajo said he was not satisfied such a warrant was necessary.

During a court sitting yesterday, Easygas undertook not to refill the yellow, green or brown cylinders it was collecting with its own gas or use the cylinders to market its gas.

Liquigas filed an application for a warrant of prohibitory injunction on January 22 in an attempt to stop its competitor from accepting its cylinders from clients who wished to switch to Easygas. The latter started accepting its competitor’s cylinders when Liquigas announced it would only be refunding €5 of the deposit paid by customers unless they produced a receipt for the €25 many would have likely paid. In practice, this would have served as a barrier for consumers wanting to switch supplier as they could potentially lose €20 on every cylinder they return without a receipt.

Reacting to this scenario, Easygas offered €25 for every reusable gas cylinder returned even if customers did not have a receipt.

In its application for an injunction, Liquigas argued the gas cylinders distributed to consumers remained its property against a deposit. Yet, Easygas was collecting empty gas cylinders belonging to it, without permission, and was now in possession of a large number.

It had described the action as “illegal and abusive” and in violation of its proprietary rights. It was also having an effect on the company’s production line and stock of cylinders.

However, Mr Justice Caruana Demajo, sitting in the First Hall of the Civil Court, said he was rejecting the request as he was not ­satisfied there was need for a ­warrant.