DOHA: Amid complaints about shortage of light weight Shafaf cylinders in the market, Woqod, the sole distributor of LPG cylinders in the country, is reportedly planning to expand the distribution network.
Quoting an unidentified source, a local Arabic daily reported yesterday that Woqod plans to provide 5,000 Shafaf cylinders daily to its distribution centres.
“Last year there were only 10 trucks distributing Shafaf cylinders. Today we have 19 and three of them have a capacity of 105 cylinders. And we are planning to add more,” the source was quoted as saying. The company has 212 distribution centres for Shafaf across the country and 600,000 Shafaf cylinders in the market. It has announced plans to phase out the metal cylinders in four years.
Every month Woqod sells more than 156,000 Shafaf cylinders while the sale of metal cylinders has declined to 15,000, said the source. The distribution team works from early morning to late in the evening to ensure adequate supply of Shafaf cylinders in the market, added the source. The daily also quoted comments from people who believe that Woqod should ensure adequate supply of Shafaf cylinders in the market.
The distribution team should visit each centre twice a day to ensure adequate supply.
It is difficult to find Shafaf cylinders at distribution centres in the afternoon and people are forced to wait for the next day, said a respondent.
He said the situation has forced some families to buy up to three cylinders as reserve.
A respondent named Yusuf Al Abdullah said people are forced to drive from one area to another to get cylinders. “We are wasting time running from one place to another,” he said.
“Shortage of Shafaf cylinders is an issue raised many times. Why is Woqod not solving it,” asked Jamal Al Ali.
Ahmed Al Mansouri wondered why Woqod is not using the traditional way of distribution using vehicles moving around the city. “People are fed up with searching for gas cylinders. Distributors should know the consumption rate in each area.” The Peninsula
