UAE: Petroleum Prices to See a Three-fold Jump?
Daijiworld Media Network – Dubai (SP)
Abu Dhabi, Jul 5: UAE's English newspaper, Gulf News, has reported that Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc), is poised to take over the operations of Eppco and Enoc petrol stations in northern emirates.
The newspaper says that the UAE government is moving to cancel licences standing in the names of Eppco and Enoc in the northern emirates, and allow Adnoc to take over the running of these service stations.
It is learnt that Adnoc has shown a high level of interest in the matter, and it wants to manage and run all the stations previously run by both companies.
Reportedly Eppco and Enoc are pressing the government to allow them to raise fuel prices,
The two companies say that the cap on petroleum prices is resulting in massive losses to them due to rising crude oil prices in the world markets.
Emirates Petroleum Company (Emarat) was suffering similar losses until the UAE cabinet increased the company's capital to about Dh 9 billion at the fag end of last month.
The sources added that Eppco and Enoc have submitted reports to the ministry of finance and industry, recommending lifting of the fuel price cap, and letting the prices be driven by market forces.
It is feared that lifting of the ban may result in a three-fold increase in the price of petrol, from around Dh 6.80 per gallon to around Dh 18.50.