Still without gas

Stricken households were still receiving gas cylinders yesterday, but residents from the region around Birkirkara, Balzan, Attard and Lija were still complaining they had no gas.

However, a Government Investments Ministry spokesman said another 35 trucks were expected to be distributing gas cylinders again today to meet the demand.

The heated issue of gas shortage is now abating. However, the debate continues as to who the consumer should resort to for help if they remained without a gas cylinder.

The Malta Chamber for Small and Medium Enterprises - GRTU, issued a statement yesterday saying that Government Investments Minister Austin Gatt, had given the wrong information on Radio 101 when he had advised consumers to call the GRTU if they experienced gas shortage.

"Whoever needs gas should call the Enemalta Corporation's customer care and not the GRTU, which first and foremost, is not licensed by the energy regulator to function as an agency for gas; and secondly it is Enemalta's social and economic responsibility to handle this situation," according to an issued statement from the GRTU.

While the GRTU represents the 31 distributors, it insisted that the gas shortage and the whole confusion, which arose in the distribution of gas cylinders, was Enemalta's fault.