And while those groups are angry about petroleum exploration in National Parks - Liquid Petroleum Gas is what's been on the minds of most as the LPG importers yesterday announced that there will be a countrywide shutdown tomorrow.
But, it appears, there won't be, not anymore. First, a cabinet subcommittee has been formed to look at the question of BNE retailing locally produced butane. That subcommittee will meet with the importers tomorrow at ten am.
And, it appears those importers will not be striking tomorrow. We called a couple of companies on the list this evening and they said they will be open tomorrow. Of course, they'd have to be because yesterday the country's biggest importers and supplier of Butane, Belize Western Energy said it would not participate in a shutdown.
With that crisis forestalled for the time being, Government - specifically the Cabinet subcommittee - now has to weigh the competing interests of the LPG importers who ensure total national supply of butane against the interest of BNE - which can only supply 30% of the market but for a far cheaper price.
The Belize Bakers Association today came out on the side of BNE saying that, quote:
"the possibility of cheaper butane gas is wonderful news for the association….The… Association….supports (BNE's) decision to seek government's permission to supply butane gas at a cheaper price….The production of butane at a cheaper rate…should be allowed."
That's one vote for BNE and we expect consumers would have many more but it is still a very loaded decision, and that Cabinet subcommittee has just begun its work…
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