Gas shortage hits Zululand
Low gas supply in Zululand affects company bottom line.
THE countrywide shortage of liquid petroleum gas (LPG) has affected several Zululand depots, who are reportedly ‘struggling’ to meet the increased demand from public and retail customers.
The hardest hit companies told the Zululand Observer on Wednesday that the shortage – largely as a result of planned maintenance shutdowns of major gas companies – had severely affected company turnover since May.
‘We have been operating at a loss for the past three months and have not given our staff short time,’ said a reliable source at an Empangeni gas depot.
‘We have many unhappy retail customers apart from the general public. We did receive random gas deliveries but this is not enough.
‘We even had to source gas from Mozambique. With more deliveries expected this week, it is hoped the low gas supply can improve by 45%.’
Other companies situated in Empangeni including Norsan Gas and Oryx Gas have also been affected by gas supply constraints.
The gas shortage has become an annual occurrence during winter when various refineries countrywide shut down for repairs and maintenance.
LPG gas is commonly used in households for cooking and heating.
June, July and August are generally the busiest months for many gas suppliers as the cold weather drives up demand with extra usage of gas heaters.
Erratic load shedding has also seen more consumers heading to stores and petrol stations to stock up on gas and this increase in demand has exacerbated already low supplies.
Diesel shortage
At Oilco in Empangeni, Manager Jurie Dean said they had further been affected by a diesel shortage during the past month.
‘But we did make contingency plans to store extra diesel during the past two weeks.
‘We are not sure when the situation will normalise.’
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