Energy Dep't says LPG supply sufficient, warns sellers vs overpricing

The Department of Energy on Tuesday allayed fears of a possible shortage of liquefied petroleum gas amid a delay in the arrival of LPG supplies at the terminal in Bataan province. In a statement posted on the Official Gazette website, the DOE said some independent LPG players deferred their purchases before a price rollback, and the resulting influx of LPG buyers at the Liquigaz import terminal in Bataan went beyond operating capacity. "However, Liquigaz gave its assurances that there will be additional supply coming in starting today until the end of the week," it said. It also said that since Liquigaz and other bulk suppliers prioritize those with contractual obligations compared to walk-in customers, consumers should not panic. But the DOE also reminded sellers not to overprice their products. "Thus, the DOE would like to appeal to consumers not to panic. Likewise, the DOE warns sellers to avoid overpricing of LPG products. The average price of an 11-kg LPG tank is around P655 (with the rollback)," it said. Earlier, a report on dzBB radio said as many as 100 tanker trucks had gone to the terminal in Bataan to wait for the arrival of the LPG shipment. Some of the drivers said they had been staying in the area for as long as five days. They said they were to buy LPG supplies and deliver them to various parts of Luzon such as Tarlac, Bulacan and Pangasinan. — BM, GMA News