Black Market Takes Over Quick gases

Quick Gases ceased operations late last year following a dispute over control of the company after owner Genius ‘Ginimbi’ Kadungure passed on. Despite a call by the Botswana Energy Regulatory Authority (BERA) for those in possession of cylinders from the company to exchange them, dozens could not do so as the company ran out of money to buy the cylinders from them.

The Monitor has established that some individuals have realised the struggle to replace the gases for Batswana and moved swiftly to buy the cylinders at a cheaper price. “Seeing that people are frustrated and anticipating that the company will open in the next coming months, they buy cylinders for between P150 and P200. This is lower than the set standard cylinder price which is P310. The situation is bad as BERA is failing to help these desperate people who did not end up in this situation willingly,” a source said.