Updated 8.40pm, adds Easygas statement
Liquigas will continue selling its 12kg gas cylinders for €16 until a meeting is held with the regulator to clarify the situation, the company said on Tuesday evening.
Earlier in the day, the Energy Minister said the price of cooking gas will go down by €1 for the popular 12kg cylinders as from Wednesday.
Gas cylinders will cost €15 instead of €16 while 25kg cylinders will go down by €2.05 - from €33.30 to €31.25.
The decrease follows a substantial drop in oil and gas prices over the past week as coronavirus slowed economic activity worldwide.
But the Energy Minister said Tuesday the decrease was possible because it had always acted wisely and had a clear plan for the sector to benefit households and businesses.
It said the government remained committed to helping families, as it was also doing by subsidising the salaries of many workers.
The government had to date been resisting calls to reduce the prices of utilities, including electricity, water and fuel.
In an interview carried on Monday, the finance minister was asked for his reaction to calls for a cut in electricity prices.
In his reply the minister said: "It is not just the government’s company [Enemalta]. You also have the Chinese now. It is not ours to say, OK, let’s lower this or increase that."
Gas in imported mostly by Liquigas, a private company, with prices regulated by the regulator.
Liquigas to maintain current selling price
In a statement in the evening Liquigas said that the regulator's announcement was without consultation and as the main supplier of gas in Malta, it had requested an urgent meeting with the minister.
This is to be held on Wednesday and is intended to clarify the situation.
In the meantime, Liquigas will maintain the selling price of €16 for a 12kg gas cylinder, it said.
Easygas to sell at new cheaper prices
Easygas said it will be reducing its gas cylinder prices in spite of an agreement with the government and the regulator to retain the same prices for a year.
The company said it understood the situation the country was currently in so it was willing to comply with the request of the government and the regulator to lower its prices.
PN statement
The reduction was welcomed by the Nationalist Party which said it was not, however, thanks to any government initiative but to the two private suppliers and the drop in the international price.
The PN reiterated its appeal to the government to reduce water and electricity rates to reflect the international cost of oil.