Gas shortages in Maputo.

31 May, 2006

Maputo is experiencing ongoing shortages of cooking gas following the temporary closure of the Engen refinery in South Africa for maintenance. Supplies began to run out in mid-May and many people have had to switch to wood fuel as a result. Initially it was thought that Engen until then the only supplier of cooking gas to Mozambique would resume production at its Durban plant at the end of May. However, according to the energy ministry the start date is now set for mid June, the Maputo daily Noticias reports. Meanwhile, the government has begun importing gas from another South African supplier but the imports are insufficient to meet the shortfall leading to long queues and price hikes at sales points.