Ship's arrival to ease gas cylinder shortage

The arrival of a gas supply ship yesterday afternoon is expected to bring the shortage of gas to an end.

An Enemalta spokesman yesterday said the distribution of gas cylinders will start this morning between 8 and midday at the Gas Division in Birzebbuga, Luxol Ground in St Andrews, the Burmarrad Price Club, near Santa Maria Addolorata Cemetery and at the Xewkija and San Lawrenz distribution centres in Gozo.

The spokesman said the corporation started the unloading of gas on its arrival, and will start bottling cylinders early this morning, with distribution commencing "almost immediately".

"We are expecting to complete the bottling of around 9,000 cylinders by tomorrow," the spokesman said yesterday. This, he said, would allow Enemalta to resume normal door-to-door distribution tomorrow.

Gas distribution has been at the centre of much discussion in recent weeks as a shortage of gas cylinders has sparked fears among many people that they will remain without gas to heat their homes in the cold winter days.

However, on Friday a spokesman for Enemalta announced that 13,500 new cylinders had been delivered, and these would help the corporation in its attempts to meet consumer demand.

One of the reasons behind the current shortage of gas cylinders is the fact that the corporation did not accept a consignment of 24,000 cylinders after tests showed they were not up to EU standards.