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Oct 15 2011

Dubai's Enoc Says Fuel Subsidies "Not Sustainable"

Saturday, Oct 15, 2011

DUBAI (Zawya Dow Jones)--Dubai's state-owned fuel retailer Emirates National Oil Co, or Enoc , said Saturday that the continuing burden of providing subsidized fuel to customers in the emirate "is clearly not sustainable or viable for the company."

In an emailed statement, Enoc said high global oil prices has increased the cost to the company of subsidizing fuel. Meanwhile, Enoc said it is seeing increased demand from Dubai motorists following the summer lull.

"The current scenario, where Enoc has to bear the burden of higher international fuel prices while at the same time distributing fuel at subsidized rates, is clearly not sustainable or viable for the company," the Enoc statement said. " Enoc looks forward to the support of the concerned authorities in addressing the concern," the company added.

Enoc said the high cost of fuel subsidies has had a serious impact on the company's ability to expand its retail network in Dubai in order to meet growing demand. It noted that very few service stations have been added to its network recently, and some had to be closed "to undertake infrastructure development work."

The government of the United Arab Emirates has capped the gasoline price at 1.72 U.A.E. dirhams ($0.47) a liter, but Enoc has to import the fuel at international market prices.

Enoc reiterated that it expects to incur a loss of AED2.7 billion in 2011 due to the high cost of providing subsidized fuel.

-Dubai Bureau, Dow Jones Newswires; +9714 3748044; djnews.dubai@dowjones.com

Copyright (c) 2011 Dow Jones & Co.

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

15-10-11 1154GMT

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