Refinery stocks up on gas cylinders to meet winter demand

AMMAN — The Jordan Petroleum Refinery Company (JPRC) is buying 100,000 gas cylinders from a Turkish supplier to meet the anticipated increase in demand for the commodity during winter, a JPRC official said Thursday. 

Mohammad Maharmeh from the JPRC said the refinery has stocked up on gas cylinders and 65,000 new units are available at its warehouses in Zarqa in addition to 50,000 cylinders that arrived at the port city of Aqaba, according to a statement e-mailed to The Jordan Times by the Industry, Trade and Supply Ministry,

Demand for gas cylinders during winter usually rises sharply as households in the Kingdom use them for heating as well as cooking purposes. 

Consumers exchange an empty cylinder with one containing nearly 12 kilogrammes of gas, which costs JD10.

Maharmeh told ministry officials and representatives from the Gas Station Owners Association (GSOA), who convened on Thursday to discuss preparations for winter, that the refinery has supplied the domestic market with 250,000 cylinders this year, adding that the shipment from Turkey is expected to arrive in the Kingdom before the end of the year. 

The ministry statement said stakeholders agreed on certain mechanisms to guarantee that local needs of gas cylinders and fuel products are covered during the cold season. 

The refinery will provide the market with an additional 11,000 cylinders on a weekly basis to avoid shortages, the statement said, adding that the price of an empty cylinder was set at JD35, while a full one costs JD45. 

GSOA President Fahed Al Fayez said the syndicate will work on controlling these prices by intensifying its monitoring of distributors. 

The ministry said stakeholders also agreed to set up an emergency committee to follow up on the situation of the fuel market during winter, when demands on gas, diesel and kerosene usually surge, to address any problems that may arise. 

Over the past few years, consumers have complained about shortages in the supply of gas cylinders, particularly during inclement weather conditions such as snowstorms.