Metric move gains pace at pumps across UAE

Across the UAE, 122 fuel stations have adopted the new system, shifting from the gallon.

Abu Dhabi: A total of 122 fuelling stations across the country have adopted the litre instead of the imperial gallon as a unit of measurement, a senior official said on Tuesday.

Mohammad Saleh Badri, Acting Director-General of the Emirates Authority for Standardisation and Metrology (Esma), said the conversion from the gallon to the litre by all oil companies and corporations operating in the country from January 1, 2010 for a period of four months was in line with UAE Cabinet Decision No. 31 of 2006 on the national system of measurement, which mandates the use of the International System of units (SI) as a basis for the legal units of measurement in the country.

Decree

Accordingly the UAE Cabinet issued Decree No. 270/3 in 2009 stating petrol will be sold in litres instead of gallons effective January 1.

The imperial gallon equals approximately 4.5 litres.

Badri also emphasised that the main aim of Esma is to build quality infrastructure for the country through traceable and reliable measurements, which enhance the national economy and enable UAE products to compete effectively on global markets.

‘'Since the new measurement went into effect from 1st of January 2010 up to yesterday, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) Distribution has converted dispenser gauges in 21 stations in Abu Dhabi and the northern emirates.

The number for Emirates National Oil Company (Enoc) was 12 in Dubai and for Emirates General Petroleum Corporation (Emarat) it was 89 in Dubai and the northern emirates,'' he added.

He also focused on the importance of changing the unit of measurement in line with international practices.

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