Saudi Gazette report

JEDDAH — Cooking gas cylinders will now be available at petrol stations and supermarkets, Al-Eqtisadiah Arabic newspaper quoted informed sources as saying on Tuesday.

The ministries of municipal and rural affairs and commerce and investment have been directed to make sure that petrol stations and supermarkets selling liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders strictly follow safety regulations and implement the directives issued by the Council of Ministers in August to regulate the distribution of cooking gas and dry gas.

Licenses will be issued against certain fees to petrol stations and supermarkets authorizing them to sell LPG and dry gas cylinders.

Violators will face harsh punishments including a maximum fine of SR5 million in addition to the withdrawal of their license.

The Electricity and Cogeneration Regulatory Authority has been tasked with making a long-term plan in collaboration with the Ministry of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources to supply adequate number of LPG cylinders to consumers.

Under the National Transformation Program (NTP) 2020, LPG production will rise to 17.8 billion cubic meters daily from 12 billion at present.