An innovative initiative with low operational cost
ENOC: 20 mobile fuel stations before the end of 2020
The mobile station meets the daily fuel needs of 400 cars. From the source
Zaid Abdulrahman Al-Qufaidi: "The mobile stations meet the increasing demand for fuel and reduce the burden compared to the existing traditional service stations."
picture
The Executive Director of the retail sector at the Emirates National Oil Group (ENOC), Zaid Abdulrahman Al-Qufaidi, said that the group plans to complete 20 new mobile stations for fuel distribution in Dubai and the Emirates: Ajman, Ras Al-Khaimah and Fujairah, before the end of this year, including 12 stations in Dubai.
He assured, to «Emirates Today», that these stations are an innovative initiative that obtains all the necessary approvals, before operating, from the competent departments and bodies.
He explained that the plans to establish new mobile stations do not include Sharjah, at present, in light of the continuing discussions with the competent authorities in Sharjah about opportunities to establish this type of station.
Quick solutions
Al-Qafidi confirmed that coordination has been made with the Ministry of Infrastructure to establish the new mobile stations, especially as some of them will be set up in areas that were designated as parking lots for trucks, pointing out that the group has finally started preparing these mobile stations by handing over the sites to specialized contractors.
He added that these stations provide quick solutions for fuel services, in a way that meets the needs of residential areas and highways, and also contributes to overcoming the difficulties of finding suitable lands for establishing new traditional stations, especially with the speedy completion and equipping of these stations, and the low cost of their construction, compared to traditional stations.
Expansion factors
Al-Qufaidi attributed the expansion of mobile fuel stations to the increase in the number of registered vehicles, with the population growth rate continuing to rise, which means an increase in the demand for filling stations in the coming years, in addition to expectations that the population will increase with the launch of the Expo 2020 exhibition. This highlights the need to foster innovation in the market, and to provide customers with more efficient fueling services in densely populated areas.
Relieve congestion
Al-Qafidi confirmed that the group had spotted a success to test a mobile station, which it had established near the "Arabian Ranches" area in Dubai, indicating that providing mobile service stations that could be installed in remote areas would contribute to reducing congestion.
He stated that building a conventional service station requires about 18 months, including obtaining the necessary approvals and building permits, stressing that with the launch of ENOC transportable fuel stations, the group will be able to meet the increasing demand for fuel, especially for customers residing in remote residential complexes. As well as reducing the burden on existing service stations.
Environment and safety
Al-Qafidi pointed out that the mobile fuel stations will meet the daily fuel needs of 400 cars, stressing that environmental, health and safety factors are one of the strategic pillars that ENOC adopts in its operations for these stations.
He indicated that the design of these stations will be according to the best environmental, health and safety practices, including the installation of a valve to prevent fuel leakage, audio alarms, pressure prevention outlets and emergency openings for the internal and external walls, in addition to the vapors recovery system, stressing that all of this was designed to ensure the highest Safety standards in the communities served by "ENOC". The stations are designed to run on solar energy and are equipped with a number of the latest technologies to enhance energy efficiency.
Ease of transportation
The executive director of the retail sector at the Emirates National Oil Group (ENOC), Zaid Abdulrahman Al-Qufaidi, said that mobile fuel stations are characterized by ease of transportation, as they can be dismantled, moved, and re-installed in locations where regular service stations cannot be reached, within 30 days.