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Lovemore Zigara, Midlands Correspondent
A LOCAL company, MEGAZ, has ventured into the gas business as demand for the commodity has soared due to load shedding.
The firm has invested close to $100,000 in the business and set up shop in Gweru, Bulawayo, Victoria Falls, Zvishavane and Hwange.
The company intends to open to more branches in Kwekwe and Shurugwi by the end of next month.
Patrick Hokonya, the company’s managing director, predicted that demand for liquid petroleum gas (LPG) will continue to increase as people are slowly realising that it is no longer a substitute source of power.
“There is increased demand for LPG which mainly has been driven by the power outages. However, people are slowly realising that this is now an alternative source of power and some are using gas even when electricity is available,” said Hokonya.
“As Megaz we’re encouraging the use of gas by offering competitive prices so that it becomes cheaper to buy it than electricity. If as a country we’re serious about conserving electricity then this is the way to go”.
In the short term, Hokonya said the company is in the process of setting up a depot in Gweru with a storage capacity of 50 tonnes.
The entrepreneur said there was also need for stakeholders in the industry like manufacturers of gas stoves to offer competitive prices to encourage the use of LPG.
His remarks come after the government banned the use of solar geysers last year as a way of saving electricity.
Energy and Power Development Minister Samuel Undenge said the move would see government saving up to 300 megawatts of electricity per day.
Companies such as Econet which swooped on Redan and Genius Kadungure’s Pioneer Gases have entered the industry taking advantage of the power crisis the Sadc region is currently experiencing.
LPG industry in the country has previously been largely dominated by BOC Gases.
Online Reporter