When the fuel gauge points to “E”, drivers in Sharjah and the Northern Emirates can breathe a little easier today.
Emirates National Oil Company (Enoc) signed an agreement yesterday for the transfer of 25 non-operational service station facilities in Sharjah to Adnoc’s distribution network.
The agreement comes on the back of many disruptions in the fuel supply to Sharjah since 2011, resulting in an ultimatum from the emirate’s government and the closure of many Enoc stations. The 25 stations covered by yesterday’s announcement will be renovated and rebranded Adnoc before re-opening.
“Through this strategic agreement, we are transferring for free our non-operational sites in Sharjah to Adnoc Distribution,” said Saeed Khoory, the chief executive of Enoc. “The optimal use of these assets will benefit Adnoc Distribution in reducing the load of their existing network in the emirate.”
The closures had increased the pressure on the remaining petrol stations in the Northern Emirates, with long queues a day-to-day nuisance.
Adnoc has previously taken over 74 petrol stations run by the UAE fuel retailer Emarat in Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain and Fujairah, with 30 of the stations in Sharjah alone.
This is in addition to Adnoc taking over the Sharjah Terminal Depot of petroleum products in Port Khalid. Fuel problems in the emirate stretch back to 2011 when Dubai-based Enoc, which owns both Enoc and Eppco stations, stopped supplying petrol to the Northern Emirates.
The Sharjah government issued a 72-hour ultimatum to Enoc to resume refuelling or close down all its stations.
This ultimatum was not met and the company closed pumps and shops, and blocked car service bays at all of its stations.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, ordered Adnoc to take action.
The Abu Dhabi company has since increased its supply of fuel to the Northern Emirates and will build more petrol stations.
ascott@thenational.ae
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THE BIO
Favourite car: Koenigsegg Agera RS or Renault Trezor concept car.
Favourite book: I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes or Red Notice by Bill Browder.
Biggest inspiration: My husband Nik. He really got me through a lot with his positivity.
Favourite holiday destination: Being at home in Australia, as I travel all over the world for work. It’s great to just hang out with my husband and family.
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
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BRIEF SCORES
England 228-7, 50 overs
N Sciver 51; J Goswami 3-23
India 219, 48.4 overs
P Raut 86, H Kaur 51; A Shrubsole 6-46
England won by nine runs
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MATCH INFO
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Chelsea 1
Hazard (22' pen)
Manchester United 0
Man of the match: Eden Hazard (Chelsea)
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Michael Young: Israel's 'iron wall' is sealing the country off from peace
Saeb Erekat: Palestine is capable of overcoming the coronavirus spread
Alexandra Chaves: Gazan artists paint to bring attention to the coronavirus
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