Muhammad Al-Kadomi Okaz/Saudi Gazette JAZAN – The prices of cooking gas cylinders have climbed to SR25 up from SR17 in Jazan after several distributors took advantage of a sharp decrease in supplies of the vital product recently. Residents expressed resentment and anger at the spike. “Why do I have to pay SR25 when I used to get a cylinder for SR18?” said one irate customer. The majority of residents who Okaz/Saudi Gazette met said a cooking gas processing plant should be opened in the region so the problem does not occur in the future. This is not the first time the region has suffered from a shortage of cooking gas. Trucks routinely bring cooking gas into the region. However, the slightest delay can cause a shortage and lead to a temporary price increase. Distributors held the National Gas Company responsible for the shortage saying trucks had to wait two days before the company could provide them with enough gas cylinders, causing a delay and the subsequent price increase. A member in the Jazan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, who preferred anonymity, said the municipal council had recommended that a processing plant be opened in Jazan but the proposal was swiftly rejected.
