Moroccan government refuses to meet gas distributors' demands

Gas Distributors Association Chairman Mohamed Benjelloun The Moroccan government has condemned gas distributors for holding the state to ransom ahead of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan .
Distributors are threatening to stage a strike to pressure the Islamist-led government to increase distribution margins
Minister-Delegate for the Budget Idriss Azami al-Idrissi told the Parliamentary Committee of Finance and Economic Development on Thursday that the government would not allow distributors to "blackmail" state officials.
Earlier in the week, Mohamed Benjelloun, chairman of the Moroccan Gas Distributors Association said that companies would go on strike because of the state's failure to cooperate.
"Our margins have not changed since 1998. Our 500-odd members have decided that they can no longer wait and strikes may happen."
Last week, Moroccan officials denied claims made by Istiqlal Party chief Hamid Chabat that the government was considering a cap on the number of gas cylinders available in the market.