Emirates Gas steps in to help LPG consumers in Ajman

The offer has been extended to consumers who were shut out of supplies following a cylinder substitution move by another company.

Consumers in Ajman have recently started facing problems as a competitor started replacing Emirates Gas cylinders with their cylinders. Customers unaware of the substitution were suddenly left in the lurch when the new company refused to refill the cylinders and imposed new conditions on distributors.

Following a flurry of complaints from distributors and consumers, Mr Mohammed Al Marzouki, Manager Ajman Municipality, recently held a series of meetings with Mr Nader Al Fardan, Marketing Manager - Emirates Gas. Emirates Gas then volunteered to offer free cylinders to alleviate the suffering of consumers and support Ajman Municipality in their efforts to curb unfair trade practices.

Emirates Gas had earlier made representations and complaints to Ajman Municipality and Civil Defence on the violations and unethical practices of the competitor.

Not only that the cylinder substitution was being done without consumer knowledge, but Emirates Gas cylinders were kept aside and prevented from distribution and many were also sent to other markets. This is when regulations set by the UAE Ministry of Interior prohibit gas companies from filling cylinders of other companies and moving filled or empty cylinders from one emirate to another. Cylinders are identified by the markings on their valve protection ring in which the name and logo of the company that has issued these cylinders are engraved on the metallic plate.

Hesham Ali Mustafa, General Manager - Emirates Gas, complimented Ajman Municipality and Civil Defence for their efforts towards finding a solution that avoided further hardships for consumers.

"The offer of free cylinders during the month of Ramadan is a good will gesture from Emirates Gas to the consumers of Ajman. Emirates Gas will always ensure that consumer interest is fully safeguarded,"

said Mustafa.

"Emirates Gas also takes this opportunity to reiterate our objection to the unfair practice of our competitor. It poses a huge safety risk and interferes with our maintenance schedule, which is critical to ensuring consumer safety. We hope the authorities will take stern actions against such violations in public interest and see that our cylinders are returned to us," he added.

Emirates Gas recently introduced new valves and regulators with improved safety features in the Dubai market and all cylinders are currently being converted to this new system. Mustafa said that cylinders in Ajman too will be replaced with the new valves and regulators once the violations are stopped.

Abdul Hamid Nissarudin of Olympic Gas Distributors and A. Majid of Al Mabrook Gas who had taken up the violations with the authorities thanked Emirates Gas for its timely help to consumers in Ajman. "We are happy that Emirates Gas has come to our rescue as gas is a basic necessity in households. This is great news for consumers who were suddenly left with nothing but empty cylinders."

Emirates Gas, trusted for the quality and integrity of its services, serves most of the areas in the UAE and has a large customer base. The company has bottling plants in Jebel Ali, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain and Fujairah.