Gas price shoots up in Ajman again

The new price hike comes in the wake of a similar one just four months ago.

Speaking to Khaleej Times, Bijit Mathew, Manager of Al Injaz Gas distribution in Ajman said that the price hike has affected the distributors as well as the customers.

According to him the price of gas cylinders rose in Ajman due to the price hike of oil and other consumer products. Since the international markets have increased the price of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), it automatically led to the shooting up of the price of cooking gas in Ajman and other emirates. The demand by truck drivers of distribution companies for an increment in their salary, is another reason being given for the gas price hike.

Mohammed Kamal, Manager of Al Bakht Gas distribution, said that the drivers were demanding a salary raise since the cost of living has gone up.

“The price of fuel needed to run the trucks which distributes the gas cylinders to the consumers has also increased. The company is forced to spend more money to maintain the trucks and keep them operational to run their business. As it is we get little profit compared to other companies dealing in consumer products,” he pointed out.

Abdul Majeed from Al Mabrook Gas said that the main reason for the gas price hike was the increase in prices of many consumer products. As gas distributors, he said, we are forced to be on par with the market to maintain the little profit we make in this business. Mohammed Al Awadi, a resident from Ajman said that the concerned government organisations are not controlling the price rise of various products, which affects the public adversely.

According to Nimmat Mohammed Farah, a housewife, this increase in gas price would only upset the home budget and force them to use charcoal for cooking. “The government should take serious action to stop these greedy traders and distributors who after every two or three month come up with new increase in prices," she added.