Record fine over gas price caps in Sharjah

SHARJAH // A company selling gas in cylinders in Khorfakkan has been fined up to Dh50,000 (US$13,600) for violating set prices. According to the Department for Economic Development, it is the biggest such fine ever handed down in the emirate. Khalid Saif, the director of price control and consumer protection, said the company was among six punished for breaking set prices this year.

"But we regard this particular case very seriously as it concerns a reputed company violating in large numbers," he said, without naming the firm. Khalifah al Kutbi, the director general of the department, said it had been given a tip from a resident that the company was selling at higher prices than allowed. Officials then seized five distribution vehicles that each contained gas cylinders without price tags.

"We had asked all companies to use different colours for each cylinder size so as to distinguish the prices but all those were violated," he said. Most of Sharjah now depends on central gas supply from Sharjah Electricity and Water Authority but Khorfakkan and Dhaid rely on private companies. [e-mail]