State‑owned Maldives Gas has begun rationing domestic gas cylinders due to what the State Trading Organization (STO) describes as a supply shock in the regional market, with the company expecting the situation to normalise next week.
Customers have reported receiving only 7‑kilogram refills instead of the usual 10‑kilogram cylinders, along with long delays in delivery. A senior Maldives Gas official told Sun on Monday that STO is currently handling all procurement transactions for the company.
The official said this is the first time in the company’s history that a shortage has lasted this long, attributing the disruption to STO’s handling of supply arrangements. STO had not commented publicly before Monday, but an STO official told Sun in the evening that gas stocks had not run out.
According to STO, Maldives Gas temporarily reduced the amount sold per cylinder due to shocks in the global and regional supply market. The official said both gas importers have historically rationed sales whenever supply fluctuations occur.
He said the issue is minor and will be resolved next week, after which 10‑kilogram cylinders will be sold as normal. With Ramadan approaching, many households have expressed concern that shortages and delays may continue. STO said Maldives Gas is preparing for the fasting month and expects the situation to stabilise before then.
An employee of Maldives Gas, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the company is currently sourcing gas from Villa until its own shipment arrives on the 15th of this month, after which stocks will be replenished.