BY MOHAMMAD SHOEB
DOHA: Petroleum products distributor, Qatar Fuel, has acquired some 20 specially-built fuel tankers to work as mobile filling stations in areas that urgently need their services.
Many more such mobile fuel filling facilities are being acquired to be deployed in localities that have no petrol stations, it is understood. The move apparently follows pressure from public representatives to provide petrol filling facilities in different areas of the country where petrol stations have been demolished.
The Central Municipal Council (CMC) recently discussed the issue and urged the Ministry of Municipality and Urban Planning to not demolish filling stations any more.
Contcated for comment, lone woman CMC member, Sheikha Al Jefairi, said that old petrol stations were being razed due to safety requirements. She, however, added that there are alternative plans in place to avoid chaos.
“About three weeks ago we had a meeting with Woqod (Qatar Fuel) regarding the issue, and they have assured that replacement plans are in place for those petrol stations that have been demolished,” she told this newspaper. She said Woqod was facign shortage of land in some areas. “They have, though, assured they will be pressing mobile fuel stations in service.”
Meanwhile, motorists using the Corniche Street are facing a tough time in filling up their cars as the Port Petrol Station, the only fuel station along the street, has stopped operations recently and going to be demolished soon.
The filling station owned by Al Mosallam Trading Company is located near the General Authority of Customs. It was closed a few weeks ago due to safety concerns as this is one of the oldest fuel stations in the country and lacked some crucial safety standards.
“Port Petrol Station was the only fuel station on my way from West Bay to Abu Hamour via the recently opened F-Ring road. Because the fuel station is now closed, I am compelled to take the E-Ring road, at least twice a week, to fill my car. This is not only a longer route but also time consuming as I have to face three extra signals, in addition to long waiting time at the filling station at Mesaimeer,” said Mohammed Tahir, a resident of Barwa City.
With many old fuel stations in the city already closed and demolished, such as Al Tadamun petrol station next to Naseem Al Rabeeh Polyclinic on D-Ring Road, and one adjacent to the old Mashreq Bank building, filling up cars at existing petrol stations are becoming increasingly difficult, especially during peak hours.
Motorists complain that at any given time of the day a petrol station is crowded with vehicles and queues are sometimes frustratingly long.
Woqod is, for instance, building a new petrol station near the General Post Office, which is expected to be operational in 2016. The Peninsula
