Oman consumer protection authorities fine six fuel stations in Muscat

Energy Saturday 07/October/2017 21:17 PM
By: Times News Service
Oman consumer protection authorities fine six fuel stations in Muscat

Muscat: Six fuel stations in Muscat were fined in 2017 by the Public Authority for Consumer Protection (PACP).
Officials said that the violations include charging higher than the administered petrol and diesel rates, delay in changing the fuel prices and opening a single lane for motorists.
Officials said the maximum number of violations was reported from the gas stations, which didn’t provide fuel when they had stock. “These gas stations were fined between OMR50 and OMR2,000,” an official from PACP said.
PACP also called on providers to abide by and comply with the instructions issued and not to manipulate the prices and urged consumers to report violations that infringe their rights.
It also urged citizens and residents to keep an eye on the monthly updates released by Oman’s Oil and Gas ministry regarding the revised petrol prices.
Earlier, the Haima Primary Court issued a court order fining a gas station OMR2,000 for charging higher than the administered petrol and diesel rates.
PACP also clarified that such act violates the provisions of Article (40) of the Consumer Protection Law. The government had cut the fuel subsidy in January 2016 and prices were increased by more than 50 per cent since then.
M91 or regular grade fuel has been capped at 186 baisas a month to allow low income groups to not feel the heat of subsidy removal.
Fuel prices reached historic highs this month as M95 petrol will now cost 205 baisas per litre, compared with 196 baisas a litre last month.
The price of diesel has gone up to 211 baisas a litre, from 201 baisas per litre.
Since subsidies were removed, fuel prices have increased in line with international crude prices.