Resort operators and businesses across the Maldives have been forced to dramatically alter menus and even temporarily close entire restaurants after weeks of disruptions to the supply of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG).
The general manager of one exclusive resort told Minivan News that LPG shortage had created a “food and beverage nightmare” over the last three weeks.
“Comedy of errors”
Maldive Gas, a major supplier of cooking gas to both resort operators and restaurants across the country’s inhabited islands, released a statement (Dhivehi) on Thursday (June 20) saying it expected the LPG issue to be resolved today.
Apologising to its customers, Maldive Gas stated that it had been forced to ration LPG to clients to avoid running out, citing a malfunction in the engine of a cargo vessel bringing a shipment to the Maldives as the reason for the issue.
Asked whether the company had resolved the LPG shortage today as promised, Maldive Gas requested Minivan News contact a company representative at its plant on the island of Thilafushi, who was not responding to calls at time of press.
Speaking to local media today, Maldive Gas Managing Director Ahmed Wafir announced that the company had since removed restrictions over the supply of LPG.
“Gas is now available as it was available from us before, without any limit,” he was quoted as telling Sun Online.
Minivan News understands that other key local suppliers such as Villa Gas have also been affected by the recent LPG shortage. Local businesses that are customers of the company said today they had been informed the issue would be resolved within the next 24 hours.
Despite the supplier’s claims, a resort general manager told Minivan News on condition of anonymity that many of the country’s exclusive island properties had been forced to drastically cut their menus due to a “comedy of errors” by suppliers.
The source claimed suppliers had been experiencing gas shortages even before reports surfaced that a transport vessel had broken down around 200 kilometres from Male’.
According to the general manager, very little information had been given by suppliers over what had led to the rationing, which was having a direct impact on a large number of tourism properties.
“All resorts have been affected from what we’re told, and what I’ve heard from other resorts. This also happened the same time last year and it seems suppliers have not learnt from this,” the resort source claimed.
The general manager said that aside from having to minimise menus, catering staff on the property had been forced to set up barbecues around the resort to try and feed guests, with certain restaurants and an on-site pizza oven out of use for most of the month.
“Needless to say, there have been complaints from guests,” the source responded, when asked about the potential damage the shortage of LPG would have on the Maldives’ reputation as a high-end tourism destination.
The general manager added that although the resort had continued to receive a limited supply of around two bottles of LPG a day during the shortage, this had been insufficient to meet the property’s average daily consumption of eight.
“Suppliers have told us normal service will resume by this evening, I’m about 90 percent certain [it will resume],” the source said.
In Male’, local media reported that a number of cafes and restaurants had also been negatively impacted by gas shortages over the last week, with some even forced to close.
“Very scary”
Local businessman Fasy Ismael, the co-owner of several well-known restaurants in the capital including The Sea House Maldives, Jade Bistro and Oxygen, described the challenge of trying to secure LPG as “very scary” for businesses such as his in recent weeks.
“We weren’t sure when we’d get LPG in, and thought we might have to shut down for a couple of days,” he said.
Fasy claimed that even today, his restaurants had only been receiving half the total amount needed to run the businesses.
“For the last week, we haven’t been able to get a full supply from Maldive Gas. Villas Gas has not been able to supply us for two weeks,” he said. “We are lucky we use two different suppliers to meet our needs.”
Fasy said today that both gas suppliers had promised that supply would be returned to normal by tomorrow at the latest.
He said his restaurants had narrowly managed to stay open, thanks to a large reserve stock of 15 bottles.
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If only Dhivehistanis conducted Islamic tourism instead of kaafir tourism this would never have happened. Our kind Arab masters would have donated gas free of cost to run alcohol/pork/ribaa free restaurants. Looks like now Dhivehistanis have to learn from the Hindus and use cow patties for gas. Or go back to kerosene and coconut oil like old times. But look at the bright side, the tourism industry might collapse and Dhivehistanis won't have to eat haraam money anymore.
Well, I wonder how the tourists who spend several hundred dollars per night will feel when they will be offered sandwich and peanuts.
Outta money, outta luck. Game over, illegal occupational regime!
With any luck all the tourist will stop coming, and the Maldives will go back to 3rd world poverty.
@Virenda, they will have WTF look on there face that's how they will feel, lol ! Followed by a what to do look from their waiter, Dho !
The comments of Minivan news seems to get more depraved and disgusting every month. We have people named Homosexual making disgusting and utterly ridiculous comments, and the forum administrators of Minivan dont have the courtesy to censor the nonsense views which are just sick.
This Guy homosexual is sick, and his comments are sick. Minivan News should moderate the comments and dissallow comments from people like Homosexual. Freedom of speech doesnt mean that we all have to get eye sore from the rantings of a individual who doesnt have the courtesy to talk in decent language.
The comments of some people are really good, intellectual and to the topic. However the comments of some are so off-topic it is really annoying.
@Individual.
Not only homo, I believe some deranged kaafir soul is using multiple aliases to rant on Minivan. The problem with minivan editors is that they do not value their paper. They seems blissfully unaware that the whole English speaking world makes its mind up on Maldives after reading their news. Its true but sad, Minivan is without competitor in Maldives in news in English and readers input as comments.
The country is not working or functioning efficiently anymore. No one can be surprised as this is an unelected regime that took office with the gun instead of the vote.
We were just about to turn into Singapore, now we are to become Somalia.
What a mess the coup regime have made. Out of money, out of bribes, out of friends and soon out of power!!!
Shortage of gas is not a new problem here, we have had that for years now, so it has nothing to do with this Government, and we will always have that problem, because we can't plan.
We will never become like Singapore, we will remain like this always
How can you claim, without investing. The MOU was just an intent. Claiming the job so eagerly, shows that the contract is very profitable to GMR. Maybe the lost a few million on pre-project cost and other "expenses".
@Observer: Revenge is a dish best served cold.
Hopefully, the illegal occupational regime will go bankrupt, be unable to pay off the drug traffickers and SO thugs they depend on for control and degenerate into a bloody war so we can finally be rid of those parasites.