Caf

Local cafés have started to close shop following a shortage of liquefied petroleum gas used for cooking.

An employee of Lonuziyaarai Café, a local café located in the Galolhu ward, Male’, said that the café consumes a minimum of 13 kgs of gas per day and that they have been forced to close down until the current shortage is eased.

“We cook a lot of curry, and a lot of other cooking everyday too. But the gas we get now is not enough,” the staff from Lonuziyaarai Café said.

Other café’s around the capital have also reported difficulties due to a shortage in cooking gas. They too, say that they are being forced to temporarily close down. Some local households have expressed their concern.

Ahmed Wafir, Managing Director of one of major suppliers of liquid petroleum gas, Maldives Gas, told Sun Online that this recent shortage is due to a delay in the vessel that transports gas from overseas. He said that the company has controlled their supply to 3kgs per household and 10kgs per café.

Villa Gas, also a major supplier, stated that they have completely run out their current stock.

Both companies are transporting their current shipment on the same vessel. The delay in the shipment has been reported to be due to a fault in the vessel’s engine. Both companies assured that the vessel will arrive in Male’ tomorrow evening.