SHARJAH // Drivers hope Adnoc’s takeover of petrol stations will help end Sharjah’s fuel crisis.
Filling stations in Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah are being rebranded as Adnoc services.
“It has been common to find Emarat stations closing off some fuel pumps or fully closing because of no fuel supply,” said Brahmani, a Sharjah driver.
He said there had been long queues at the pumps as a result of the shortage of petrol stations and fuel.
At least one Emarat station, previously called Al Madar service station in Sharjah Industrial Area 4, and one called Al Nadya service station, in Ras Al Khaimah, have already replaced their logos with Adnoc branding.
Staff at several Emarat stations also confirmed they had been absorbed into Adnoc.
“We are now working for Adnoc and all our contracts have been transferred,” said one petrol pump operator at the former Emarat station in the Maisaloon area.
Adnoc is taking over 74 petrol stations operated by Emarat in Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain and Fujairah, with 30 of the stations in Sharjah alone.
This is in addition to Adnoc taking over the Sharjah Terminal Depot of petroleum products in Port Khalid.
Fuel problems in the emirate stretch back to 2011 when Enoc, which owns both Enoc and Eppco stations, stopped supplying petrol to the Northern Emirates.
The Sharjah government issued a 72-hour ultimatum to Enoc to resume refuelling or close down all its stations.
This ultimatum was not met and the company closed pumps and shops, and blocked car service bays at all of its stations.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, ordered Adnoc to take action.
The Abu Dhabi company has since increased its supply of fuel to the Northern Emirates and will build more petrol stations.
Adnoc is also planning to build a fuel import terminal at Hamriyah port within the next two years, specifically to supply the Northern Emirates.
ykakande@thenational.ae