(Adds government statement)
Gas distributors did not distribute cylinders for the second day in a row today as they continued to insist that the government should not allow gas companies to make door-to-door deliveries from their own trucks.
The distributors again used their trucks to close the exit of the Qajjenza gas bottling plant, blocking two Liquigas trucks inside.
Policemen later ordered them to move the trucks, saying it is illegal to block an emergency exit. The distributors complied, but warned that the Liquigas trucks would have to drive over them if they tried to get out.
While a meeting was being held between the GRTU - as representative of the distributors, and a Liquigas delegation - some of the distributors waiting outside said that their dispute was not with Liquigas but with the government, which had issued the licence to Liquigas to sell cylinders from its trucks. They warned that unless the situation was resolved, the GRTU could order solidarity action by members of other sections within it.
Following the meeting, GRTU president Paul Abela said the GRTU would consider proposals made to it by Liquigas and by Resources Minister George Pullicino, who was contacted on the phone. He confirmed that there would not be any gas distribution today and did not rule out action by other sections of the GRTU is the dispute persisted.
LIQUIGAS SLAMS 'ABUSIVE' ACTION
In a statement, Liquigas Malta said it had started selling its product directly from its own trucks in the Sliema area because of complaints of bad service by the distributor.
"Distributors' trucks are abusively blocking the exit gate at Qajjenza bottling plant, and obstructing Liquigas trucks from going out to provide a decent service which the Sliema district has been lacking for some time now," the company said.
"Liquigas expects that the authorities take action and ensure that its duty to provide a cylinders distribution service is protected."
The gas distributors, who started their blockade of Qajjenza yesterday, argue that door-to-door deliveries by Liquiqas violate a 1992 agreement between the distributors and Enemalta which divided Malta into areas of responsibility for each of the 31 gas distributors.
GOVERNMENT APPEALS TO PARTIES TO HALT ACTION
The Rural Affairs Ministry said that throughout the situation the government was proactive and worked on a proposal on which an agreement could be reached. This could be confirmed by all parties in the matter.
The government insisted that it was against all action which could endanger negotiations and encouraged all parties to continue operating according to the existing agreement.
The ministry said that the government's proposal was for the dominant operator to have a dedicated service but there would be another multi-flagged distribution service.
In both circumstances, the current distributors would continue to give the service.
The government appealed for godwill and encouraged all parties to immediately halt their action so that consumers could be served. In the meantime, the government was available for negotiations for an agreement to be reached.