Thousands of vehicle owners stand to benefit from a Woqod initiative to allow users to pay for fuel using their debit and credit cards at petrol stations across the country from the year-end.
Woqod chief executive officer Saad Rashid al-Muhannadi on Wednesday revealed that “Woqod is in the process of accepting debit and credit cards for fuel sales at petrol stations by the end of this year.”
Al-Muhannadi said the number of petrol stations in operation under the company’s ownership or management, including mobile dispensing facilities, has reached 58. This includes six petrol stations, including two mobile petrol stations, opened this year.
In addition, 13 stations are under construction and 12 under the tendering and designing stage. 
Woqod is planning to increase the number of petrol stations to 83 by the end of 2018 and 120 by 2022. 
He said Woqod was coordinating with the Ministry of Municipality and Environment for the allocation of more sites for petrol stations.
With regard to Fahes centres, al-Muhannadi said some two new vehicle inspection centres started operation in the period under review up to September. Another Fahes station will be opened by the end of this year.
The total sales volume of petroleum products (diesel and gasoline) for the period exceeded 4,024mn litres, with an increase of 2.5% for the period that ended in September as compared to the same period last year. 
Jet fuel sales increased by 11.5% to 3,315mn litres for the period that ended in September as compared to the same period last year.
In addition, al-Muhannadi said bitumen sales increased by four times for the period that ended in September, and that Woqod marine vessel occupancy rate increased by 12% for the period, driven by increased level of bitumen and “HFO Bunkering” operations. 
On the other hand, LPG and natural gas (CNG) sales for the period increased by 14% and 0.9% respectively.