Business | Oil & Gas

Petrol shortages continue to plague drivers in Sharjah

Enoc and Eppco officials remain tightlipped about cause of scarcity

  • By Mariam M. Al Serkal and Aya Lowe, Staff Reporters
  • Published: 00:00 June 13, 2011
  • Gulf News

Running low
  • Image Credit: Atiq-Ur-Rehman/Gulf News
  • An Enoc petrol station in Sharjah has no customers because of fuel shortages.

Sharjah: Petrol continues to remain unavailable at Enoc and Eppco stations across Sharjah for the third week running.

Motorists in Sharjah said that although they noticed some Emarat petrol stations selling petrol again, the Enoc/Eppco petrol stations remain closed.

Abdul Majeed Zuhair, a resident of Yarmook, said that he cannot stand the situation anymore because he is tired of waiting in line for more than 30 minutes at the Adnoc petrol station on the Sharjah airport road.

"The situation really needs to be improved because it is very troublesome to waste so much time waiting in line. The Eppco petrol stations are still dry. My friends told me that the Emarat petrol station near Home Centre on University City Road started selling petrol but that is out of my way," said Zuhair.

Mohammad Al Qadi, another resident, said the situation has not changed at all and although he did not see any vehicles left abandoned by the side of the road, the problem continues.

"I stopped filling my car in Sharjah and prefer to have it done in Dubai while on my way to work. This problem is getting ridiculous and out of control, and it is about time the authorities did something to solve it."

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Some stations have opened, but the majority remain closed despite a 48-hour deadline given by the Sharjah Executive Council last Wednesday to provide an explanation and resolution of the shortage.

When contacted Khalid Hadi, spokesperson for the Enoc Group, the parent company of Enoc and Eppco, did not respond.

The ostensible reason given by Enoc for the closure of 82 petrol stations across Sharjah and the northern emirates has been due to maintenance and upgrading.

Comments (11)

  1. Added 17:10 June 13, 2011

    Guys, Fuel is short and pumps are not filling up. There is no ambiguity about this, is there? Then why are we trying to make a huge cry out of it. Play it smart and go to DXB and get refuelled. I know the downside of this, trust me, I live in SHJ too. But if you wish to keep rolling, then do the right thing. I don’t think that there is any reason to blame SHJ or any of its offices for that matter. This problem is clearly not related to any renovations. This was reported in gulfnews too.

    Anonymous, ShJ, Pakistan

  2. Added 16:22 June 13, 2011

    Fuel is one the necessity in UAE other than food clothing and shelter. Living is Sharjah is reasonable on the other side it has Shortage of power, jam packed traffic and other issues. People are managing somehow. Atleast they should have some sort of courtesy in the matter of fuel. If it was winter people would have managed easily but atleast in summer they should't have bought such issues. Everyone are busy with their work. Some have to reach office on time, some have to go for a meeting, etc etc. Time is more important. Life is short. I pray to God all these issues are sorted out soon and we have a peaceful life.

    Anonymous, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

  3. Added 16:11 June 13, 2011

    The reason given is maintenance, but why do they need close down all the stations at the same time and upgrade the system. i don't think so this the valid reason. There should be a solution soon because soon we wiil have to abandon our cars.

    Anonymous, dubai, United Arab Emirates

  4. Added 15:38 June 13, 2011

    I live in Sharjah and work in Dubai. 2 days ago before heading to Dubai I stopped by Enoc at 11 AM on Al Etihhad road and they said that they are out of petrol; asked me to check another petrol station; I head to Enoc in Al Tawoon I got the same feedback, head to Eppco on the other side of Taawon I got the same feedback then I continued till I reached Dubai where their were no petrol stations on my way till I reached Eppco beside Lamcy plaza and I got the same feedback!! I told them that i'm getting out of gas and I need anything to make my car work it out to SZR! They said sorry! Again i continued till I reached Emirates petrol station on SZR by 12:00 PM (1 Hour already wasted) and again the same feedback! They said we got too many vehicals today and we ran out of petrol very soon! They asked me to visit the next Emirates petrol pump on SZR and my car decided to STOP!!! A pregnant woman with no petrol at 12:20 PM! What a lovely sunny day!! Is this is fair????!!!

    Anonymous, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates

  5. Added 12:39 June 13, 2011

    Enoc/Eppco says their is a shortage due to Renovation of older eppco bunks...but whats wrong with their supply to the new Bunks ENOC which are already Renovated...they could increase the supply their which was going to eppco earlier as it is the same management.....their is shortage of oil i beleive with them itself ...emarat had the similar problem but they were clear on their issue ..enoc should learn something from Emarat or ADNOC....

    Anonymous, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates

  6. Added 11:40 June 13, 2011

    This problem will continue till the pump prices are freed from fixed prices ,thus allowing the prices to float with international oil prices as done all developed countries . The UAE with its rich and solid economy and wised rulers will far superseed the other GCC countries to free the prices and join the international group with big steps . The people of UAE will need to have a small raise to their salaries ( for low paid <20,000 dhs. mnthly ) and adabt to consume petrol with higher wisdom and more care fot the enviroment and for the budget as well .

    Anonymous, UAE, United Arab Emirates

  7. Added 11:03 June 13, 2011

    I am living in Sharjah and in every couple of days I have to fill the fuel, due to these dry petrol station I have to wait around 30 min in Adnoc near by Mysaloon area. The system should be upgraded in short time [it shouldn’t] take weeks.

    Mohammad Imran, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates

  8. Added 10:32 June 13, 2011

    The only advantage staying in Sharjah is the cheap rent compared to Dubai. Rest everything is below standard. The shortage of petrol and the authorities inefficiency in restoring the supply is another example of the difficulties the residents are facing.

    Anonymous, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates

  9. Added 10:24 June 13, 2011

    Every summer, something happens in Sharjah and its always related to a shortage of fuel.

    Simon, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

  10. Added 10:24 June 13, 2011

    Why only Petrol Stations in Sharjah and Norther emirates need upgrading??? if an upgrading is needed why the authorities need to close all the stations??? this is not the right king of procedures to be follow... if the authorities are planning for an upgrade they have to do it by step by step. not by closing all the petrol station @ one time. i think there is some other issue.

    Anonymous, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates

    11. View more comments

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