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LPG shortage: Struggling to find alternatives to keep home fires lit

15 Jan 2022

 
  • Gas shortage sees growth of alternative energy use in kitchen
  • Consumers complain kerosene in short supply and too costly
  • Urban population hit hard by LPG issues; dependency on electric stoves rises
  • Importing kerosene to meet demand uptick will take time: Energy Ministry
  By Maneesha Dullewe The continued shortage and price hike of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) in the country has driven a surge in the sale of alternative energy sources such as firewood and kerosene for domestic and other uses, with long queues being witnessed across the country to purchase kerosene oil.  Since last year, an online retailer has even commenced selling bundles of firewood along with clay stoves as LPG troubles continued to worsen. Currently, the online store offers a bundle of 5 kg cinnamon firewood at Rs. 175, while a clay stove and a bundle of 5 kg of cinnamon firewood is on offer at Rs. 390, both under the grocery category. The ongoing power crisis in the island recently culminated in a discussion held at the Presidential Secretariat last Monday (10), where President Gotabaya Rajapaksa urged the gathered heads of the power and energy sectors to take steps to find solutions to the crisis without disrupting the lives of the people. Several days prior to this, on 7 January, Energy Minister Udaya Gammanpila warned that Sri Lanka could face a fuel shortage by the third week of January.   Under these circumstances, National Movement for Consumer Rights Protection Chairman Ranjith Vithanage told The Sunday Morning that while many people had resorted to alternative methods of power consumption due to the present dangers surrounding the usage of domestic gas cylinders and the prevailing shortage, it had led to more problems than solutions.  “These alternatives are also unsuccessful,” he revealed, adding: “Kerosene prices used to be extremely reasonable, but now kerosene is being sold at about Rs. 6,500 to Rs. 12,500. So, this has become one issue. However, not even kerosene is easily available now; people have to wait in lines to buy kerosene. The next issue is firewood – what used to be sold at Rs. 30-50 is now Rs. 150. Moreover, electricity prices have also risen. Considering all this, the consumer is left without the means to cook the food they bring home.” While the consumer is under a great deal of pressure, there appears to be no solution visible on the horizon, he lamented.  Additionally, Vithanage noted that the usage of alternatives as a solution to the LPG issues was not practical, especially in urban areas. “Gas usage is higher in the Western Province while consumption is lower in the South, so those latter areas will not feel the pinch. Those living in Colombo and urban areas, in boardings or apartment complexes, only have kerosene as an alternative, since they cannot use firewood stoves. This leaves only hotplates or kerosene stoves as alternatives. Therefore, considering the consumption patterns, (using alternatives) has not been a viable solution for the Western Province.”  He declared that people were finding the twin issues of gas shortage and gas prices unbearable. Since their salaries had not increased in proportion to rising prices, people were living sparingly on a few meals, he revealed. “Often people cook one meal in the morning and subsist on these rice and vegetable curries throughout the day,” he shared, describing this as a combination of economising and privation due to the present crisis. “People have to wait in lines for essentials (such as gas), but near the end of the line the goods are all sold out. Therefore, the public is facing extreme difficulties.”  Moreover, Vithanage noted that there was an issue with electricity as well, saying: “There is an ongoing diesel shortage. So, there is no diesel to power the hydropower plants at the moment. Since we are unable to obtain diesel, we will lose the functions of anything that runs on diesel. Therefore, using hotplates for food preparation under these circumstances will cause people to experience more day time power cuts.” Vithanage claimed that the Government had been unsuccessful in managing the present situation. “In other countries, politicians were attentive to the ongoing global situation and took the advice of economists on what could happen to those countries in future regarding power and other matters. However, no such thing happened in our country. Politicians continued to lie to the people instead of looking for a solution.”  Accordingly, he opined that instead of waiting around for politicians, the people should manage the situation on their end if they didn’t wish to suffer further, by using food and gas sparingly.  Responding to queries on the prevailing kerosene shortage, Energy Ministry Secretary K.D.R. Olga emphasised that there was no shortage, saying: “As for a kerosene shortage, what we are facing is an insupportable level of demand (for kerosene). For example, no such shortage is being reported from the areas populated by fisher folk. This problem has risen in areas where the general public is engaged in consumption. With the gas shortage and the usage of kerosene for vehicles and private buses, an unexpected level of demand for kerosene has been created. This is what has caused the present difficulties.” She asserted that under normal conditions there would have been no issues with meeting demand.  Addressing plans regarding future supply, the Secretary responded that this was not a simple procedure. “When obtaining petroleum products, we have to call for tenders, prepare a ship to bring supplies, etc. and this whole process takes at least a month. This cannot be brought down all of a sudden,” she clarified.     With gas shortages, the subsequent high demand for kerosene and firewood and the ensuing sourcing issues with these options, the general public has had to contend with hardships that complicated their lives especially in the domestic sphere.  Speaking to The Sunday Morning, Advocata Institute Chief Operating Officer (COO) Dhananath Fernando said that with gas and electricity issues affecting restaurants, bakeries, and eateries, it would lead to changes in consumer behaviours.  With kerosene being used mostly to generate power and fire furnaces in the Gampaha District, the industries that depend on generating power would be affected, he explained. Accordingly, he noted that Sri Lanka was not in a position where it could afford to have a shortage or even electricity, and that the Government had to ensure that supply remained uninterrupted.  

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