Gas distribution

According to press reports, the government is considering the possibility of gas cylinders being also available for sale from certain outlets, possibly ending the monopoly a handful of distributors have had in this sector for ages.

Gas cylinder distribution has always been problematic in Malta, not to mention the difficulties encountered over the past days and weeks. It is often erratic and totally inconvenient for families when both partners work. Obtaining a new cylinder is also difficult. Thus, the Mediterranean way of obtaining new cylinders in an "underground" manner is also not unknown.

This is totally unacceptable in a country which considers itself to be a modern, European one. After all, gas is one of the basic utilities. The shortage of gas can be compared to the endemic shortage of water and electricity in the 1980s, which used to happen then because of lack of political will to improve the infrastructure which supplied such utilities to homes. The situation with regard to gas today can be considered in the same light. The method of distribution is simply inadequate. In my days as a news reporter I used to put the question about gas cylinder distribution reform to every new Enemalta chairman the first time I would interview him after his appointment.

Practically every time the answer given would be that the corporation is "looking into the possibility" of having cylinders sold from certain outlets, like petrol stations. The present chairman, Tancred Tabone, had also answered in like fashion, with the difference that something was actually done. However, having just two or three distribution points open only for a couple of hours on a Saturday, though helpful, is not enough.

In the last years, the government has been trying to give the impression that Malta can be a "centre of excellence" for the Mediterranean region in many areas, including information technology (IT). However, before we can even begin to think about promoting Malta in this way, we still need to get the basics right. What use is having Bill Gates, of Microsoft fame, coming to Malta to open some venture here without him being able to heat a pizza for lunch for lack of gas?