https://www.engineeringnews.co.za

Commission’s LPG Market Inquiry recommendation yields positive outcomes

12th April 2018

By: Simone Liedtke

Creamer Media Social Media Editor & Senior Writer

     

Font size: - +

The Competition Commission has accepted the withdrawal of a complaint by propellants supplier Puregas against liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) manufacturer and supplier Shell Downstream for unfair business practices, after Puregas was able to secure a supply agreement on favourable terms.  

In February, Puregas lodged a complaint against Shell with the commission, alleging that Shell had cancelled its supply contract for propane and butane and that this amounted to an exclusionary act in contravention of the Competition Act. 

During its investigation, the commission found that Shell had sold its LPG business to Easigas a few years ago, in terms of which Shell was to exclusively supply LPG to Easigas.

However, in an effort to comply with the commission’s recommendation in the LPG Market Inquiry, Shell decided to renegotiate its supply contract with Easigas.

In terms of the new contract, effective from February 2018, Shell will exclusively supply 90% of its LPG production to Easigas and allocate the remainder to small wholesalers in line with the commission’s recommendations in the LPG Market Inquiry.  

The new supply contract resulted in Puregas no longer being able to buy its product requirements directly from Shell as it does not fall within the definition of a small wholesaler as per the LPG Market Inquiry.

Puregas was required to buy its product requirements from Easigas and was concerned that the price it would pay for propane and butane was likely to be higher. 

However, Puregas has since submitted that it has managed to secure a supply agreement with Easigas on favourable terms.

As such, Puregas has taken a decision to withdraw its complaint against Shell.

The commission has accepted the withdrawal and considers the matter to be finalised.

Edited by Chanel de Bruyn
Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor Online

Comments

Showroom

Werner South Africa Pumps & Equipment (PTY) LTD
Werner South Africa Pumps & Equipment (PTY) LTD

For over 30 years, Werner South Africa Pumps & Equipment (PTY) LTD has been designing, manufacturing, supplying and maintaining specialist...

VISIT SHOWROOM 
Rittal
Rittal

Rittal is a world leading provider of top-quality integrated systems for enclosures, power distribution, climate control, IT infrastructure and...

VISIT SHOWROOM 

Latest Multimedia

sponsored by

Magazine round up | 19 April 2024
Magazine round up | 19 April 2024
19th April 2024

Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):

Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format

Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):

All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.

Already a subscriber?

Forgotten your password?

MAGAZINE & ONLINE

SUBSCRIBE

RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA

SUBSCRIBE

CORPORATE PACKAGES

CLICK FOR A QUOTATION







sq:0.099 0.148s - 137pq - 2rq
Subscribe Now