Oman has introduced a temporary limit of 30 litres per fuel refill at petrol stations located within 50 kilometres of the country’s border crossings following a surge in demand that has left some outlets facing low stocks.
The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion (Tejarah) announced the measure after it was approved by the National Subsidy Committee. The restriction is intended to maintain fuel availability, allow more customers to access supplies and reduce long queues at affected stations.
Nasra bint Sultan Al-Habsi, director general of Tejarah, clarified that motorists can refill their tanks more than once in a single day. However, authorities have not specified whether the 30-litre limit applies to each individual or each vehicle, nor have they announced when the temporary restriction will end.
The ministry stressed that the measure applies only to petrol stations within the designated 50-kilometre border zone. Fuel stations elsewhere in Oman remain unaffected.
Implementation is being coordinated with the Ministry of Energy and Minerals, OQ and petroleum marketing companies to ensure supplies remain available at the affected outlets and that operations continue without disruption.
The restrictions come as authorities seek to manage demand and prevent shortages at stations serving areas near the country’s borders.
Fuel prices remain unchanged in published rates
Oman’s listed fuel prices are currently OMR 0.229 per litre for M91 petrol, OMR 0.239 for M95 petrol, OMR 0.399 for Ultimax 98 and OMR 0.258 for diesel.
The government has not announced any changes to these prices as part of the temporary refill restrictions.
The move follows enforcement action taken by Tejarah against fuel stations found violating regulations governing sales to transport tankers.
On October 22, the ministry said inspections had identified violations at four stations that supplied fuel to transport tankers in quantities exceeding the prescribed limit of 100 litres.
Legal action was taken against the companies involved, with the authority reminding fuel marketing companies and their affiliated operators to comply with the laws, regulations and requirements governing their activities.
Inspections target compliance
Tejarah said it regularly conducts inspections to verify the validity of operating licences, ensure compliance with approved conditions and circulars, and improve the quality of services provided to customers.
The latest measures reflect the authorities’ efforts to manage fuel distribution and maintain reliable supplies during periods of unusually high demand.
By restricting individual refills at stations near border crossings, the National Subsidy Committee aims to reduce pressure on affected outlets while ensuring that fuel remains accessible to a wider number of consumers.
Authorities have indicated that coordination with energy-sector bodies and petroleum suppliers will continue to support availability at the affected stations while the temporary measure remains in force.
