Enoc hikes diesel price for fourth time in 40 days

Enoc hikes diesel price for fourth time in 40 days
By Shakir Husain, Staff Reporter / GULF NEWS
Published: July 30, 2007, 00:01


Dubai: Dubai's Emirates National Oil Company (Enoc) yesterday raised the price of diesel by six per cent to Dh10.60 per gallon, the company's fourth price increase in less than 40 days.

On the previous three occasions the state-run company, which operates Enoc and Eppco filling stations, increased diesel prices by 20 fils each time.

The latest price hike makes diesel 24 per cent costlier in Dubai than in Abu Dhabi.

Diesel was available for Dh8.60 per gallon at the filling stations operated by Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, which has kept its price unchanged despite the distributors in Dubai regularly hiking fuel prices.

Emirates General Petroleum Corp (Emarat) was still selling diesel at Dh9.99 per gallon yesterday, but the company has matched Enoc prices in the past with its own price revisions.


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The Ministry of Economy said recently a 31.5 per cent increase in the prices of petroleum products in 2005 fuelled last year's inflation, which it estimated at 9.3 per cent.

Transport companies said the steep price hike will put an extra financial burden on them.

"Diesel prices keep going up but we cannot increase our charges so frequently," said a manager of Belhasa Bus Rental company, which operates a fleet of 70 vehicles.

Diesel consumers may also be encouraged to source cheaper fuel from Adnoc outlets.

"We are instructing our drivers to get diesel from Adnoc stations if they are in Abu Dhabi or Sharjah," said Kamran Ahmad, manager of another transport company based in Dubai.

An Enoc spokesperson told Gulf News one reason for the latest price revision was the recent introduction of low-sulphur diesel by the company and producing that fuel "is a costlier process with additional long-term investment required."