Gas shortage cooks up trouble for Jeddawis

Residents and restaurant operators say there is a severe shortage of gas cylinders in Jeddah, which is causing a great deal of inconvenience and expense.
Many here say they sometimes wait for hours in queues for gas, often without any success. They also have to drive around the city to find traders selling gas. This has become a common problem in Ramadan every year because of the high demand.
Abu Muh-anad, a Saudi citizen, told Arab News he often struggles to get gas. “I made a lot of efforts yesterday to find gas. Most of the gas stations were closed because they did not have cylinders. I live in Safa district where the gas stations often have no cylinders. It is the second time in two months that I've had this problem,” he said.
All restaurant owners in Jeddah fear this time of the year because of the seemingly inevitable shortage of gas. Many resort to stocking up on gas, often buying 10 large cylinders, to prepare for the regular 15-hour working days during Ramadan.
Ali Abdul Al-Salam, an Egyptian who manages a restaurant, said: “I could not work in my small restaurant on the first day of Ramadan because I could not find a gas cylinder at a nearby shop. So I went to a gas station in the south of Jeddah to buy three cylinders that will help me work the whole month.”
Mohamed Alawoi, a Yemeni resident who manages a restaurant in Jeddah, said many restaurants buy a number of gas cylinders to ensure adequate supply for the entire month.
Workers at a few gas stations in Jeddah confirmed that there is high demand this time of the year, with queues forming for the fuel.
An Indian worker at a gas station in Al-Aziziah district said stock is sold out quickly, with customers often wanting four cylinders each.