No shortages in fuel despite rise in demand — association

AMMAN — Preparations of gas stations for the snowstorm this week prevented supply shortages despite the "over average" demand, said Gas Stations Owners Association President Fahed Al Fayez.

Precautionary measures entailed gas stations across the country to increase the volume of stored fuel products, Fayez said, noting that consumers' complaints were "individual" and did not become a "phenomenon".

In a phone interview with The Jordan Times on Tuesday, he said the demand on gas cylinders over the past five days reached around 10 million, while around 10,000 tonnes of kerosene were sold for heating purposes.

"All fuel products were available to address the ordinary and the extraordinary demand," Fayez said.

Meanwhile, he said conflicting forecasts of the depression, which started affecting the country earlier this week, confused buyers.

The Industry, Trade and Supply Ministry issued 52 tickets over the past three days, including one to a gas station for the lack of kerosene supplies, according to a statement carried by the Jordan News Agency, Petra.

Seven other tickets were issued to bakeries for the lack of Arabic bread, with the remaining violations recorded at grocery stores for not declaring prices and hiking food prices.

The statement quoted the ministry's spokesperson, Yanal Barmawi, as saying that the ministry's inspection teams intensified field visits to guarantee the availability of goods, adding that the campaign will continue for the few coming days.

 He said the ministry receives complaints through its smartphone application and on 06/5661176.