No diesel sale in Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi's state oil company Adnoc yesterday stopped diesel filling services for heavy duty vehicles at its pumps inside the capital after scores of trucks queuing up for cheaper fuel blocked streets in the city for more than a month.

Trucks, buses and other large vehicles flocking to Adnoc's petrol stations inside the capital in the early hours of the morning were turned away and told to head for stations in the industrial city of Musaffah, nearly 25 kilometres outside the capital.

Large boards were put up at the entrance of diesel service section of the petrol pumps, telling truck drivers that the service is temporarily suspended.

"We have received instructions from our head office to stop the diesel service here and tell the truck drivers to go to Musaffah," said a worker at an Adnoc petrol pump near Defence Road in Abu Dhabi. "All trucks must now fill at stations in Musaffah outside the city until further notice. This move is aimed at restoring discipline and calm."

In a statement on Saturday, Adnoc said it would take measures to tackle the problem of congestion at its city stations and streets following complaints by traffic police about heavy road jams during the rush hours. The decision to halt diesel services effectively ended the chaos as all fuel stations inside the capital were seen comparatively vacant yesterday except for small cars seeking petrol. Adjoining streets also witnessed normal traffic movement.

Heavy vehicles had flooded Adnoc stations over the past few weeks for cheaper diesel, which is now sold at less than half the Dubai price following a series of price hikes in the emirate.