Countrywide gas shortage, stocks on the way

There is a countrywide shortage of domestic gas because of the recent drone attack on Saudi oil facilities and the decrease in the gas prices, a senior official of the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) said.

He said the shortage of gas in the local market would continue for at least another week.

The official said most of the liquid gas arrives from Saudi Arabia but after the recent drone attack on Saudi oil facilities, the shipments to Sri Lanka had been delayed.

He said the Industry Commerce Ministry reduced the price of a 12.5 kg cylinder of domestic gas by Rs.240 midnight on October 4.

"The price reduction has led to people using more gas for their day-to-day household activities with more stocks being released to the market," the official said and added that a shipment of liquid gas was on the way to Sri Lanka but take at least a week to arrive.

Meanwhile, the National Movement for Consumer Rights Protection (NMCRP) Chairman Ranjith Withanage said an artificial shortage had been created in the market by the domestic gas sellers.

He said the artificial shortage was created because of the sudden drop in the gas prices.

Mr. Withanage requested the CAA to take legal action against errant shop owners who are not releasing stocks to the market.  (Chaturanga Samarawickrama)