Abu Dhabi: The sun is setting on the long-time practice of grocery-store delivery and installation of liquid petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders to a person’s dwelling for home cooking.

And residents — who do not have permanently installed gas services in their flats or villas — are upset that they must now either drive to a petrol station to buy a cylinder or order one from one of a series of newly approved LPG gas distributors.

Earlier, residents could easily replace their LPG cylinders by calling the nearest grocery store.

Although some grocery stores are still supplying LPG cylinders, Adnoc Distribution’s plan to regulate the sale of subsidised LPG will soon make this process exclusive to a limited number of outlets.

Effective from September 30, Abu Dhabi residents will have to rely on themselves or specified distributors when purchasing Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinders. This has caused a number of concerns over safety and lack of convenience among LPG users, including heads of families, wives and the elderly.

“In a bid to regulate the sale of subsidised LPG cylinders across the emirate of Abu Dhabi, Adnoc Distribution has invited customers to register for Rahal e-Gas cards ... to migrate all functions to smart platforms and ensure safer, easier and greater convenience to customers in the emirate,” the company told Gulf News.

However, many residents disagree with Adnoc Distribution’s idea of safety, citing risks while carrying a seemingly empty LPG container to a petrol station for replacement.

L.A., a 34 year-old expat, recalled seeing an elderly neighbour and his grandson transporting a cylinder.

“The old man walks with a cane due to a disability he recently developed and with his grandson, a child, and a cylinder of gas in the elevator together — it was very worrying to see. How would he be able to carry the cylinder and transport it if nobody came to help him?”

Bushra Saeed, a mother of four, said she worries about the lack of training of residents when handling these cylinders.

“If my gas runs out at 9 or 10pm and I cannot call the grocery store in the building. I cannot run to the nearest petrol station and leave my children behind or risk having them in the vehicle with me while I run the errand. I wonder what widows and divorcees will do. I do not trust my husband to install the cylinder so we have decided to buy an electric stove even if it means a higher electricity bill at the end of each month,” she said.

Meanwhile, Emirati R.A., who lives with his family of seven in a villa, said that he places the empty cylinders horizontally inside his vehicle and secures them in place using a piece of wood or stone.

“I drive a lot more carefully too because the consequences can be deadly in case I am involved in an accident,” he said.

“I am completely against prohibiting grocery stores from providing residents with LPG cylinders because now more individuals inexperienced in the transport and installation of these, will have to handle them and risk their lives in case of an accident,” he added.

To address these concerns, Adnoc Distribution has provided a list of safety procedures for transporting, handling, storing and installing the cylinders.