Cooking Gas Supply to Ease This Weekend

The supply of cooking gas remains tight for small retailers even as the Energy department’s inspection has so far cleared some suppliers from allegations of hoarding.

In a phone interview, Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers Association (LPGMA) President Arnel U. Ty said there are still long queues for the commodity in suppliers’ depots.

He said the supply situation is expected to ease on Saturday with the arrival of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) imports.

The Energy department has ordered during the holiday break an inspection of major and so-called independent LPG retailers to ensure steady supply in the market after small sellers complained of supply lack to meet the holiday demand.

The department has cleared, among others, Petron Corp.’s facility in Bataan province of hoarding after an inspection conducted on Jan. 2.

Col. Felipe Perez of the Presidential Task Force on the Security of Energy Facilities and Enforcement of Laws and Standards said they will also inspect other major suppliers Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp., which sells Shellane, and Total Philippines, Inc., which retails TotalGaz, but he did not indicate a specific date.

"We are looking at inspecting them this month, we can’t do it all at the same time since we lack manpower," Mr. Perez said in an interview at the weekend.

Mr. Ty earlier said the supply lack forced their members to operate only every other day and that this has affected 30% of their operations.

LPGMA members, who operate only in Luzon, control 30% of the market.

Liquigaz, which supplies LPGMA members, earlier said there is enough supply for its customers.

LPGMA members include Pinnacle Gas, Cat Gas, Omni Gas, Nation Gas and Island Gas.

LPG prices remain steady at P380 to P464 per 11-kilogram cyinder tank.