Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Hala Zwati announced Saturday that gas distribution stations and vehicles are exempted from the curfew order that went into effect this morning as part of the Kingdom's measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

She said in a press statement that the exemption is to meet a high demand for gas, which, she said, is "available in sufficient supply in the Kingdom despite the unprecedented high demand for liquefied petroleum gas that shot up to 230,000 cylinders per day, compared to a normal winter daily consumption of 120,000-160,000 cylinders."

The Minister said that Jordan Petroleum Refinery Company's (JPRC) filling stations operate at full capacity, and have raised production to meet the citizens' needs.

Zwati also said that the Energy and Minerals Regulatory Commission controls the petroleum derivatives sector in accordance with the valid legislation, and follows up on the public's complaints and monitors filling and distribution centers' "adherence to their licenses."

The JPRC reassured a few days ago that it has enough stocks of gas at its various locations, in addition to ships loaded with imported liquefied gas that were contracted for this month and the next, which raises the company's gas stocks "to reassuring levels that meet local market demand for long periods."

The refinery stressed that its gas filling stations in Amman, Zarqa and Irbid were operating at full capacity to meet public demand.