Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC) yesterday unveiled what it called the first fully 'green' petrol station in the Middle East - and said it hoped it would spur a new generation of environmentally friendly stations across the region.
The idea that the sale of fossil fuels can ever be wholly green may seem counterintuitive, but ENOC says substantial investment in the station in Emirates Hills means everything from the lighting to the car wash is environmentally sound.
Zaid Al Qufaidi, the chief executive officer of ENOC's retail business stream told 7DAYS at the opening that the green station cost 20 per cent more to build. He put the cost of a regular station at about Dhs16 million ($4.4 million), meaning the new
eco-friendly station could have cost as much as Dhs19.2 million ($5.2 million).
So what green credentials do you get when you spend that much on a humble petrol pump house?
ENOC points to a number of significant innovations at the new station.
All lights and signs are solar powered, its car wash recycles every drop of water, another car wash uses a 'waterless' system, and the station sells ultra low sulfur diesel (ULSD). But the firm's execs say the most important environmental innovation is the vapour recovery system - which helps contain valuable fuel vapours, which would otherwise evaporate and be wasted. Like a star waiting to return to the stage for an encore, the vapour is collected in the "green room" and fed back into the pumps as a liquid.
"I think the biggest innovation is the vapour recovery station which has been used for the first time in this region," said Al Qufaidi.
"We launched this station two months ago in a soft opening and so far we have recovered over 22,000 litres of fuel from [using] the vapour recovery."
While ENOC was tight-lipped about when more green stations may come online, it is hoping to be the catalyst for a green revolution in the region.
"We hope that the concept will be expanded across not only the UAE but across the Middle East," said Saeed Abdullah Khoory, ENOC's chief executive.
ENOC may be first out the gate, but the main contractor behind the green technology at the station revealed other firms are nipping at its heels.
Amer Al Osh, general manager of TST electronics, said his firm was installing eco-friendly technology at stations in countries including Syria and Qatar.
However, for all the hi-tech advances on display yesterday, the average customer at a UAE petrol station these days is likely to be preoccupied by a single feature - fuel prices.
The price of oil rose above $90 a barrel earlier this week and little is expected to slow the march towards $100.
Whether consumers should brace themselves for another increase in the price at the pump after price hikes last year is a matter for the government, Al Qufaidi told 7DAYS.
Until then, customers will continue to take advantage of prices well below those charged in many other countries.
"We say repeatedly that we are selling the fuel below the ordinary price," said Al Qufaidi.
© 7Days 2011
