Consumers here are complaining that the new gas regulators introduced by the National Gas and Industrial Company (GASCO) do not work properly and are costing them too much. The new regulators, also known as flow controllers, were introduced by GASCO a month ago at a cost of SR19 each, to the dismay of many customers. Sa'ad Al-Subhi, a customer at a local gas shop, said he was shocked at the cost of the regulators, along with the new top-opening cylinder, which brought his total cost to SR34. He now has to buy three regulators. “If GASCO had made the change to a new regulator optional it would be more acceptable,” he complained. Ahmad Masood, a worker at a gas distribution center, told the Saudi Gazette that customers will be forced to buy new regulators because the old cylinders have been redesigned and will be changed. Another worker, at a gas distribution center in Al-Salama District, said most of the customers returned the new cylinders with the regulators after two days. They wanted the old cylinders and regulators and he had to refund their money. Abdullah Al-Ahmadi, the owner of a gas center in northern Jeddah, said there have been many complaints about the new regulators, despite claims by GASCO that they are safer, cheaper and more efficient. “We have talked to GASCO about the many complaints over these regulators. They only allow a very low flame and sometimes no flame at all. However, GASCO told us that the company is concerned about the safety of consumers. I have hundreds of new regulators, along with new top-valve cylinders at my center which have been returned by customers,” Al-Ahmadi added. One customer admitted that it was easy to remove the new regulator, without the need for a key. There is also no need to remove the gas hose which, after regular removal, tends to leak. “Nevertheless, what is the use of this if the regulator itself needs to be regulated to provide the flame of the traditional one,” he said. “I support the introduction of the new cylinders and regulators, but the regulators should be modified to be ready for use,” he said. Abdu, a Yemeni worker at a gas distribution shop in Al-Safa, said that the price of the new regulators is fixed but he has to deal with angry customers every day over problems with the product. The Saudi Gazette checked various shops and found that the regulators cost SR20 at some places. Some workers said the owners of the shops raised the price to compensate for the refunds they had to pay customers for returned regulators. However, another worker at a gas shop in Jeddah, said that despite the complaints, he sells about 650 new regulators a week. According to reports published in the Arabic press, GASCO has announced its intention to replace the old side valve cylinders with new top valve ones for safety and convenience. A total of 10,000 old cylinders have already been replaced in the Eastern Province. There are over eight million small gas cylinders on the market and GASCO plans to replace 1.2 million a year. __
