By Hani Hazaimeh

AMMAN - The Gas Station Owners Association (GSOA) on Thursday said there are no legal grounds for government measures meant to oblige its members to order fuel derivatives from the Jordan Petroleum Refinery Company (JPRC).

Fearing more drops in the prices of fuel, and consequently more losses, gas stations have limited their orders from the refinery, especially kerosene, the least demanded derivative, causing a shortage that was further felt with the relatively cold weather the Kingdom witnessed since Wednesday, according to the association’s president, Fahed Fayez.

Fayez was responding to a statement by the Ministry of Industry and Trade Thursday warning gas stations that they would be subject to JD500-1,000 fines if they were caught hiding fuel derivatives.

He said there is a big difference between not selling available fuel derivatives in gas stations and not having the items at all.

"How can we hide fuel products and not sell them to the public at a time when we know that their prices will drop. It doesn't make any sense," Fayez said, in reference to remarks by Prime Minister Nader Dahabi, who told Jordan Radio Thursday that the government is about to decide on another decrease in the prices of fuel.

The association’s leader added that existing official measures are also a key reason behind the current shortage in fuel products at gas stations.

"I made sure that gas stations that did not have sufficient gasoline 90 place more orders with the refinery, but Public Security Department regulations prohibit the entry of fuel tankers into cities during daytime, causing delivery delays," Fayez told The Jordan Times, adding that he explained the situation to Minister of Interior Eid Fayez over the phone, seeking a solution.

Meanwhile, the association leader said a third meeting is expected to take place between the representatives from the GSOA, the government and the JPRC to further discuss suggestions proposed by the government to address the association’s complaints over losses sustained as a result of successive drops in fuel prices.

He did not elaborate, but highlighted a demand by the association to increase their margin of profit, currently set at 1.5 per cent.