Sources told this newspaper that gas distributors are feeling nervous about the present situation in the sector and the fact that negotiations over the contract have not yet started is not helping. Distributors have seen a substantial rise in their costs especially fuel costs, TMID was told.

The contract is renewed every three years and usually negotiations start some three months before the current contract expires. However, this year GRTU seems to be speaking to a brick wall, complained Mr Farrugia, and has still not received any feedback from the Enemalta management regarding its request for a date when negotiations can start. “The contract expired some seven months ago and our members are obviously pressuring us about it. We, in turn, are pressuring Enemalta, but nothing has come of this process so far.

“Costs are rising and sales are low because of the rationed supply,” a distributor told TMID. “It takes Lm250 to fill up the fuel cylinders nowadays, when not so long ago the same amount of fuel would cost Lm100.

Distributors are anxious about the situation, particularly in view of the current shortage of gas cylinders due to the removal of some 24,000 sub-standard cylinders from the market in last September. The replacement cylinders were due to arrive in batches of some 10,000 starting in last month but no new tanks have been introduced so far.

When contacted, Enemalta PRO Erik Vella gave assurances that the first consignment of 10,000 cylinders is at the Malta Freeport and will be released in the next few days. The second consignment of 6,000 cylinders is due next month and the third, of 13,000, should arrive in January. Another batch of 12,000 is expected in February.

Asked whether the schedule of delivery would cover the Christmas period, Mr Vella replied in the affirmative. “If the cylinders are received according to the above schedule, we should be covered for the Christmas period,” he said.