Opinion | Editorials

A cost-cutting measure

Self-help petrol stations, like the one in Abu Dhabi, may soon become the norm.

  • Gulf News
  • Published: 00:32 March 10, 2008
  • Gulf News

The decision to introduce self-help petrol stations in Abu Dhabi may not be path breaking as an idea - though it is the first of its kind in the country - but it does seem to provide an indicator that it could become the norm in future. The raison d'être behind this move is simple: economics. Cost-cutting could well become the order of the day especially at a time when the price of oil seems to be bubbling beyond control. The price of petrol at gas stations in the country is well below the expected rate; therefore there is a definite shortfall while doing the maths.

This inspires the idea of introducing self-service and possibly other potentially financially viable measures in future. The reduction of staff at petrol stations is also a case in point. Suffice to say, though the decision hypes up convenience, the sums must always add up.

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