THE Commerce Minister has urged consumers to keep from purchasing liquid gas today as his ministry is expected to issue an order by the end of the day, specifying prices.
In a heated meeting with liquid gas distributors yesterday, Minister Antonis Paschalides expressed his intention to renew last year’s order, which expired at midnight, presetting prices to avoid possible profiteering.
But Gas Cylinder Distributors’ president Mikis Pitsiakkos claimed it was oil companies that controlled the prices.
“We are waiting for the companies to reduce the prices so we can also reduce them for the public,” said Pitsiakkos.
When it was pointed out that the companies’ prices were at the same levels at which the ministerial order was issued last year, Pitsiakkos added: “Based on the prices they give us we won’t change them. If the companies reduce them, we will also. Our profit is preset by the companies, not us.”
Pressed by reporters to explain how it was possible for companies to sell the cylinders at €5 and certain retailers at as much as €13, Pitsiakkos replied:
“That wasn’t us, certain kiosks, markets and petrol stations did. We maintain the prices that are preset from the companies and ministry.”
The president of the Cyprus Federation of Professional Shopkeepers (POVEK), Stephanos Koursaris, explained: “In any cases where it was spotted that the percentages exceeded the levels of reasonable profit, whether this was down to the companies, distributors or trader, these isolated incidents led the minister in our opinion to issuing the relevant order.”
Koursaris added, “We feel order has been restored in the sale of liquid gas. We want to stress that the profit percentages of liquid gas distributors remain the same and they are low. If the oil companies go ahead and reduce the bulk price of liquid gas further, we as an association of distribution are committing to reducing our prices too.”
But Minister Paschalides didn’t exclude the possibility of issuing a new order today.
The minister said he was examining the facts with his associates and by today, he will announce whether there will be another order.
He also sent a clear message to consumers: if you have no immediate need for gas, don’t go and buy any today, hinting that the ministerial order would push prices down.
