Petrol shortage rumbles on without explanation

Three days after a deadline, there is still no answer to the Sharjah Executive Council's ultimatum seeking answers from petrol companies over the weeks-long fuel shortage.

SHARJAH // Sharjah Executive Council was still waiting yesterday for an explanation from fuel retailers for a three-week petrol shortage in the Northern Emirates.

The council imposed a deadline of last Thursday evening for Enoc Group, which operates Enoc and Eppco petrol stations, to offer a reason and a solution for the shortage.

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Many petrol stations in Sharjah have been dry for days, and increased demand elsewhere has led other companies to run out too. All Eppco and Enoc filling stations in the emirate were closed yesterday.

A spokesman for the council said there had been no communication from Enoc, but as soon as a response was received it would be made public. "We believe there will be a communication on the topic in this week's session on Tuesday," he said.

The council's 48-hour ultimatum was issued after a weekly meeting last Tuesday led by the Crown Prince of Sharjah, Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qassimi.

The petrol retailers Enoc and Eppco have said the filling-station shutdowns are necessary for technical upgrades to pumps at 167 facilities in Dubai and the Northern Emirates. Their spokesman, Khalid Hadi, said last week that he could not say precisely what work was being done to the pumps, but that the upgrades generally took a couple of weeks to complete. All the work should be finished in about two months, he said. However, there has been no sign of any maintenance or upgrading work at any of Sharjah's Enoc or Eppco filling stations. With its northern stations shut, the resulting increase in demand at other companies' filling stations has led to long queues and dry tanks not only in Sharjah but also in Dubai, Umm al Qaiwain, Ajman and Ras al Khaimah. One attendant at the Eppco filling station in Al Arouba said they had been told by their supervisor that some services would resume this week, but there were no details of which services.