Self-service petrol trial: third of drivers pump own fuel

A third of drivers opted to pump their own petrol during a trial in Abu Dhabi that is being run ahead of paid-for fillups being brought in.

Adnoc Distribution said 157,000 motorists had passed through 40 of its petrol stations since April 18.

Of those, 69 per cent of customers chose the premium service – to have their tank filled by an attendant – and 31 per cent chose to fill their own free of charge.

The fee for the attendant service has so far been waived.

A survey by The National this month found that about 80 per cent said they would rather fill their own tank than pay an attendant.

Adnoc is yet to confirm the premium service fee. In its IPO prospectus in December, it estimated it would be Dh5 to Dh10.

The company said the paidfor option came with other promotional products and discounts on services.

Acting chief executive Saeed Al Rashdi said: “The early results of the Adnoc Flex free trial period are encouraging and clearly show that customers, while still familiarising themselves with the new fuelling options, like the greater choice of fuel services that Adnoc Distribution is offering.

“Staffing levels have been increased at Adnoc Flex stations and our attendants have been assisting customers to understand and choose the service that best suits them.”

Nasser Al Hammadi, chief retail officer, said the roll-out would be gradual and there would be help for drivers.

He said: “I’m pleased that our customers appear to be embracing the new fuel options as part of Adnoc Flex. It’s still early days, and we will be rolling Adnoc Flex out to many more stations over the coming months. Over the coming weeks, our attendants will continue helping customers so they can make an informed decision about which service suits them best.”

As part of the changes, a new service called MyStation is being piloted, giving customers with the choice of having LPG cylinders or fuel delivered to their home or vehicle.

The company trialled a self-service-only system in 2016 before settling on the latest plan, which was announced this month.

Adnoc is yet to confirm the premium service fee. In December, it estimated it would be Dh5 to Dh10