Former LPG Importers Say B.B.S and N.G.C.L. Playing Hard Ball

The three former LPG importers, Gas Tomza, Zeta Gas and Belize Western Energy Limited say they have still been unable to get the new price regime for butane from the National Gas Company. Doctor Gilbert Canton of the National Gas Company recently told News Five that there is more than one million gallons of LPG in the country and that the company is waiting for approval of the Commercial Operations Date by the Government. A letter to the former importers by the Belize Bureau of Standards informed them that the Commercial Operations Date is May firsts, twelve days ago. Attorney Audrey Matura says that both the monopoly importer, National Gas Company and the Government have refused to give a direct answer as to what is the new wholesale selling price for LPG.

Audrey Matura

Audrey Matura, Attorney

“What is very tragic is that today is twelve days since according to the letter of the twenty-eight of February 2020 from the Belize Bureau of Standards that the new company, the monopoly company has the authority to operate in Belize. But Hipolito it has gotten really out of hand for several reasons. One there is a blame game between NGCL and Belize Bureau of Standards. NGCL is saying although we have the monopoly to bring in we can’t tell you what the price is and how soon we will be able to sell you because the government hasn’t approved the commercial operations date. The Government is saying that we already approved the commercial operations date in a previous letter. When we wrote them directly and said please just answer us directly one, when is the commercial operation date because the monopoly company they can’t act because of you and two can you please help us find out the price? They have not answered that. If the National Gas Company has all this fuel as they claim that they have available, all this LPG, why is it that they cannot give a sale price? And why is it that they can’t say, here we are ready to deliver? There is more to it and sadly everybody is covering it up.”