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ENOC considers self-service petrol stations

An ENOC petrol station

The UAE may have some of the cheapest petrol in the world but nightowls may soon have to pour it into their own tanks.

Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC) revealed yesterday that it is considering introducing self-service for fuel refilling across its network of stations.

If it goes ahead, the new system would operate from 12am to 6am.

Burhan Al Hashemi, managing director of ENOC Retail, said: “We are evaluating the option of introducing self-service... to provide our customers the opportunity to familiarise with the concept. The self-service concept is popular in most countries.”

He added: “When motorists become familiar with the concept of self-service, we believe that it will also encourage them to further conserve on energy resources.

“We will ensure the convenience of motorists with our station staff providing all guidance needed to the motorists for the safe refill of fuel.”

However, he said the new system would not result in redundancies, with staff being moved to other positions in the company.
Reaction to the plan from 7DAYS readers was mixed.

Francis Raul Fuentes Barcelo wrote on the 7DAYSUAE facebook page: “Awesome”, while Philipp Nicolas Wätter said he would be “happy with that”.

Mohannad Alchalabi said he thought it would be slower, adding: “You will have to get out of your car, work the pump yourself then go and pay the attendant in the shop instead of the pump attendants doing all that for you. During the summer months, people will not want to do that even at night.”

Yesterday, 7DAYS reported that the latest Bloomberg Gas Price Ranking rated the UAE as the fifth cheapest country in the world for petrol at $1.77 (Dhs6.50) per gallon.

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