Updated: Normal gas distribution on Saturday

Gas cylinders will be sold from the normal distribution points tomorrow (Saturday) Enemalta said this evening.

It was reacting to an earlier statement by the GRTU which said it had directed the distributors not to sell gas in protest because their commisison had not been raised.

Enemalta said it would operate the gas sales points itself tomorrow.

In its statement the GRTU criticised Enemalta for not giving the distributors the increase in commission they were demanding. It said the increase was being requested in terms of a formula agreed a long time ago which was based on the level of salaries, fuel, maintenance and insurance costs.

The necessary adjustment had to cover the period since January 1, 2006, during which the distributors suffered a major rise in costs, notably of fuel.

Enemalta said the demand the gas distributors were making was excessive. It said that in agreement with the GRTU, an audit company had been commissioned to study the costs incurred by the distributors and the report would be issued shortly. The GRTU had already been promised a copy and the industrial action by the distributors was therefore unjustified.