Three gas stations in Saudi Arabia were shut down for violating regulations

As part of ongoing efforts to regulate the energy and logistics sector in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, inspection teams conducted an intensive campaign that resulted in the closure of three fuel stations in various vital areas, including the Eastern Province Municipality, the Tabuk Region Municipality, and the Jeddah Governorate Municipality. This decisive action was taken under the direct supervision of the Permanent Executive Committee for Service Centers and Fuel Stations , and in full coordination with relevant government agencies.

Reasons for closure and observed violations

Official reports indicated that the closures resulted from these facilities' failure to comply with the approved technical and operational requirements for fuel stations and service centers. Field teams identified several serious violations, most notably the refusal to sell petroleum products to consumers despite their availability. This constitutes a clear violation of regulations designed to ensure the continuity of supply and meet the needs of citizens and residents. Other violations related to service and safety standards were also noted.

Context of developing the fuel station sector in the Kingdom

These measures are part of a broader program adopted by the Kingdom to improve the efficiency of fuel stations and service centers on regional roads and within cities. For several years, the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing, in cooperation with the Ministry of Energy and other relevant authorities, has been implementing rigorous standards aimed at enhancing the urban landscape and improving quality of life through a station upgrade program that imposes international standards in security, safety, and related services.

This regulatory movement aims to eliminate randomness in the sector and ensure that stations provide integrated services befitting the Kingdom’s status. These standards include fuel quality, pump calibration accuracy, cleanliness of public facilities, and availability of electronic services.

The importance of oversight and its economic and social impact

These monitoring campaigns are of paramount importance on several levels:

• Ensuring security of supply: Ensuring the permanent availability of fuel and preventing monopolies or manipulation of quantities, thereby promoting local economic stability.
• Consumer protection: Protecting the rights of beneficiaries by ensuring they receive fuel that meets specifications and high-quality services.
• Enhancing competitiveness: Removing non-compliant operators from the market opens the way for qualified companies to provide better services, thus raising the level of competitiveness in the sector.

Continued monitoring tours and reporting mechanism

The Executive Committee affirmed that inspection teams are continuing their field work around the clock in all regions of the Kingdom to monitor stations' compliance with regulations and ensure the availability of petroleum products. The Committee emphasized that it will not hesitate to apply the prescribed penalties against violators.

In closing, the committee called on all citizens and residents to participate in community monitoring and to report immediately any observations or violations, such as refusal to sell or tampering with meters, by contacting the unified number ( 8001244777 ) or through the “Partner Service” application available through smart application stores.