State Trading Organization (STO) has confirmed the arrival of a new shipment of cooking gas, as supply constraints and price concerns continue to affect the domestic market.
In a statement issued yesterday, STO said the shipment was received on Tuesday and preparations are underway to begin distribution. The company indicated that maintaining uninterrupted access to essential goods remains a priority, adding that the situation is being closely monitored.
Supply disruptions linked to global conditions had earlier led STO’s subsidiary, Maldive Gas, to introduce temporary controls on distribution on two occasions this year. The latest shipment is expected to ease some of the immediate pressure on availability.
The development comes as private supplier Villa Gas prepares to implement a significant price adjustment. The company announced that from Thursday, the price of its 10-kilogram cylinders will increase from MVR 200 to MVR 350.
Concerns over both supply and pricing have also drawn attention at the policy level. Economic Minister Mohamed Saeed, responding to questions earlier this week, said the government is in discussions with both STO and Villa Gas. He added that the government does not intend to allow an increase in cooking gas prices.
The timing of the new shipment places STO at the centre of efforts to stabilise supply, even as price movements in the private market point to broader pressures in the sector.
