Firewood dealers started smuggling wood via country roads at night. There has been a shortage in wood supply after the Ministry of Agriculture prohibited selling local firewood.
Suppliers continue to sell wood via phones and smuggle their firewood in large, closed vehicles to the center of Riyadh to avoid checkpoints and the confiscation of the merchandize.
Citizens complained about the absence of imported firewood. They pointed out that the ban on selling local firewood coincided with a severe cold spell, while there was a lack of imported firewood.
Jaber Alshheri, spokesman for the Ministry of Agriculture told Al-Eqtisadiah newspaper, “Imported firewood will be available in the coming days to cover the local market needs. It will be a suitable substitute for local firewood.”
He said existing quantities of imported firewood might be insufficient for the local market, but will be covered through importers. Saudi Arabia is serviced through nearby countries such as Somalia. The transport time period from that country does not exceed eight hours.
Alshheri said the ministry would confiscate any local firewood that would be found on violators of the ban. He described their reaction to the ban as “natural”, but said, “We live in a state of desertification in time that many citizens don’t not realize the magnitude of the disaster facing the Arabian Peninsula. The effects of local logging are disastrous, and we are paying too much for it. We must understand the responsibility that rests upon us.”
Studies showed that there are 87 types of trees in the Kingdom. These trees grow in the valleys and gardens, with around 20 trees and bushes in 4,000 square meters (one acre), according to reports by a symposium held two weeks ago in Madinah, on arbitrary tree cutting and trading.
The studies showed also that tree cutting is one of the most important reasons for the deterioration of vegetation and the advancement of desertification.
At the firewood market south of Riyadh most shops have been closed. Only the ones selling coal are left. Consumers can do nothing but dial the number of shop owners that have been written on the boards or at the gate of the shop, to inquire about the possibility of buying local firewood from them. This led to the emergence of a black market for local firewood.
Alshheri said people should search for alternatives, such as imported wood and others. “We are facing a very large disaster, thus we must be patient. If you can’t plant a tree to replace a tree you’ve used as firewood, the at least maintain another tree. This is our role and responsibility toward the nation.”
He said there are alternatives to wood. Heating by electrical power is safer than charcoal and firewood.
A shop owner — who requested to remain anonymous — said that he currently couldn’t sell firewood in broad daylight and in public.
“If a customer wants a certain amount, we meet at a certain place. He needs to bring a large, closed car to load the ordered quantity. The price of a load of wood, enough to fill up a car went from SR 800 to SR 2,000, to compensate for confiscated wood and fines we get when caught.”
Wood demand to be met through imports
