Shortage of refilled gas cylinders over the past month is giving vendors and customers in the wilayat of Seeb a difficult time.
Vendors say that since stocks are not being replenished on time, meeting orders is getting tougher and income has been hit.
Salem al Ameri, a vendor said, “It’s been about a month since the shortage began. Getting even 15 refilled cylinders has become difficult when the earlier sale was between 40 and 45 daily.” This has also led to a price hike. “Each cylinder now costs RO5. Our income depends on the number of cylinders and we have a small quantity to sell,” said Ameri. Rashid al Battashi, also a vendor said it has become embarrassing to turn down calls.
“My customers keep calling repeatedly and I have to keep turning them down because I can’t meet the orders. The shortage of gas cylinders has impacted income. Coffee shops and restaurants too have been affected by the shortage,” he said. South Ma’abela resident Hassan al Amiri found a replacement after much difficulty.
“Vendors in my area refused to deliver and I managed to get one from the main depot after much difficulty. I was told that the problem has been going on for nearly a month.” Mohammed al Balushi, another customer said, “Last Friday I tried contacting several vendors, but none of them said they could deliver.”
Speaking about the issue, an official from Mustaqbal al Khair Trading, that supplies gas cylinders to Seeb and Ma’abela said, “There has been no gas in our area for the last few days and we are expecting the situation to continue for the coming weeks. We get calls from customers asking for cylinders, but have to turn them down.”
An official from Oman Coral Trading in Ghala said, “We expect the problem to be sorted out at the earliest.” Providing clarity on the matter, a senior official from Muscat Gases Company told, “We get gas from refineries. “Refineries are undergoing planned and unplanned maintenance, hence the drop in supply. We usually get 15 per cent less on a monthly basis. But the past few days have seen a drastic drop of about 35 per cent.”
He added, “As a gas company, our job is to source it from refineries, fill it in cylinders and pass it on to distributors. We are expecting things to get sorted as soon as refineries begin normal operations. “The authorities are aware of the issue and are working to resolve it.”
Source: MuscatDaily