Maldive Gas cuts cooking gas supplies by half

Maldive Gas – the state company in charge of importing gas into the Maldives – has capped the quantity of cooking gas it distributes.

The decision comes as the United States and Israel’s war on Iran disrupts energy shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, resulting in shortages in cooking gas and fuel across the world.

Maldive Gas, a subsidiary of the State Trading Organization (STO), has suspended the sale of 10-kilo cooking gas cylinders, refilling only five kilos of gas even to 10-kilo cannisters.

An official from Maldive Gas told Sun on Sunday that the company is selling five kilos of cooking gas for MVR 100.

“That’s what is available at this moment, given the current shortage,” said the official.

It is common for Maldive Gas to implement controls on supplies in response to disruptions to global supply of gas.

The current cap on cooking gas comes after senior government officials, including President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu and Economic Minister Mohamed Saeed, recently assured the Maldivian public that the war in the Middle East will not result in a shortage in fuel, gas, food staples and other essential commodities in the Maldives.

Maldive Gas had also limited gas supplies ahead of Ramadan due to a delay in a shipment, before resuming normal supplies.

Multiple employees from the company, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Sun that Maldive Gas had purchased gas from Villa, a private supplier which has a huge storage facility in Thilafushi, in order to maintain its own sales during that shortage.

The management of Maldive Gas was not immediately available for comment regarding the recent controls.