Cooking gas becomes costlier in Dubai, Northern Emirates

Two leading suppliers of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders in Dubai and Northern Emirates have hiked their prices with effect from Saturday.

Emirates Gas (Emgas) and Emarat have together announced an increase of 13.3 percentage to 16.6 percentage in the prices of LPG cylinders of different sizes.

In an announcement about the sale price revision of the LPG cylinders, the companies said: “In view of the unprecedented increases in the international prices for LPG over the last few months, we are constrained to revise the recommended LPG cylinder consumer prices. The following prices are effective 14.12.2013.”

Consumers using the LPG cylinders in domestic households, restaurants, workshops and in small industries are facing the price hike within two years after it was done last in February 2012. They now have to pay Dh10, Dh20 and Dh40 more for LPG cylinders of 11kg, 22kg and 44kg capacity, respectively.

With a 13.3 per cent hike in price, the smallest cooking gas cylinder now costs Dh85 and the medium one carrying 22kg of LPG costs Dh140, marking an increase of 16.6 per cent. The 44kg cylinder, which is usually used in restaurants and other small scale industrial units, costs Dh290 after a 16 per cent hike in price.

Both Emgas and Emarat are major suppliers of LPG cylinders in Dubai. They also supply LPG cylinders to some Northern Emirates.

Consumers in Dubai have expressed concern over the price hike.

Noreen Zulfikar, a Pakistani housewife with three children, said the hike will add to the woes of middle class families. “Everything is becoming expensive. It’s becoming quite difficult. I generally cook most of our food at home. We avoid eating out as my husband has high blood pressure. A 22kg cylinder lasts for just one-a-half-month for us,” she said.

Harikumar P.C. from India said: “We have four children and my wife’s mother and sister also live with us. So ours is a big family with high consumption. We cannot control the use of cooking gas. It’s an essential commodity and any hike in its price will affect the family budget. I’m afraid this will also in turn see restaurants hiking prices of their food items.”

sajila@khaleejtimes.com