Shortage of Shafaf gas cylinders hits market

By Joseph Varghese/Staff ReporterA cross section of retailers and customers have complained of a severe shortage of Shafaf LPG composite cylinders, which are supplied by Qatar Fuel (Woqod) for domestic use.“The scarcity has aggravated over the past fortnight and we have had customers coming from suburbs such as Shahaniya, desperate for a refill or new cylinder,” a retailer in Doha told Gulf Times yesterday.However, there is no shortage of the metal cylinders which Woqod supplies for domestic use, it is understood.Irregular supply and the recent decision to stop the sale of Shafaf cylinders at Woqod petrol stations - in the aftermath of the Duhail gas explosion that killed 11 male expatriates on February 27 - are being cited as the major reasons for the sudden shortfall.“Woqod must supply Shafaf cylinders to more shops in more areas and ensure that there is regular availability,” another retailer said.Speaking to Gulf Times, operators of many neigbourhood supermarkets in Doha complained that even after repeated requests, they do not get enough Shafaf cylinders to meet the increasing demands from customers.A shopkeeper near the Fish Market said that a large number of customers are approaching the shop for the LPG cylinders. “After repeatedly calling the suppliers for several days, yesterday evening we got the delivery of some cylinders. The whole stock was sold out in half an hour.”The trader said he was finding it hard to provide Shafaf cylinders on time to even regular customers.“This is causing ill-feelings among many of our customers and they might even stop shopping with us,” he said.A shopkeeper in the Bin Mahmoud area said that he had stopped selling the cylinders long ago because of “problems with regular supply and resultant complaints from customers.”“Finally we decided to stop the distribution. Moreover, the margin of profit was very low and the only incentive was that those coming to buy the LPG cylinders might also buy other items.”Another shopkeeper said: “People are desperately searching all over the city as the cylinders are in short supply. Whenever we get the stock, people are buying extra cylinders paying additional QR365 each, so that they can have the fuel in stock.”One customer said: “I have been driving to a number of shops that sell the Shafaf cylinders. Everywhere I get the same answer that they are not available. Yesterday I went to a shop and was told that they had sold out the entire delivery within an hour.”Another customer said that he had approached his regular shop several times and could not get it. “Finally I managed to get an extra cylinder from one of my friends. But I have to return it to him before the cylinder in his house gets empty and that is my worry now,” he added.Woqod introduced lightweight, transparent Shafaf cylinders in an effort to make LPG’s domestic use safer and more convenient. The Shafaf cylinders for domestic use are available in two variants: 6kg and 12kg.