By Mohammed Iqbal and Sanaullah Ataullah
DOHA: Importers and dealers are gearing up for the proposed ban on conventional ACs which is expected to come into force on July 1 but say they are anticipating a grace period to clear the existing stocks.
The energy-saving air conditioners that will eventually replace the conventional ones are expected to be slightly more expensive. However, the customers will benefit from reduced electricity bills due to lower energy consumption.
The Ministry of Municipality and Environment has set the July 1 deadline to phase out all air conditioners not meeting the Qatari and Gulf standards from the local market. Only energy-saving ACs will be allowed from that date. Import, sale, display and storage of conventional air conditioners have been banned.
Enquiries with wholesale dealers yesterday revealed that they have started placing orders for the energy-saving ACs meeting the new requirements.
“ Such products are already available in some other GCC markets and they are now being introduced in Qatar. For several months, the authorities have been raising awareness in the market about the new regulation. Dealers may face problems in clearing the existing stocks and we are expecting a grace period for implementing the new decision,” said a senior official of a company dealing in a popular brand of electrical and electronic products.
“We are now placing new orders with our manufacturers to deliver ACs meeting the new specifications,” he added.
Asked about the prices of the energy-saving ACs, he said they will be slightly higher than the existing ones. “However, the customers will eventually benefit from low electricity consumption,” he said.
He pointed out that despite repeated reminders by the authorities and several extended deadlines, few in the market have anticipated that the regulation could be implemented this year.
Sources from another company dealing in a different brand of ACs said the traders will find it extremely difficult to clear their existing stocks by July 1. “From the beginning of this year, we have placed orders for thousands of units with the old specification and we have been revising the orders as per demand. How are we going to dispose of all these stocks by July? The demand for ACs will start only at the beginning of summer,” said an official.
The ministry has warned of legal action against traders and importers violating the rule but has not so far mentioned about a possible grace period.
The Qatar General Organization for Standardization (QS) at the ministry had said that it will conduct intensive inspection campaigns after the July 1 deadline. The Peninsula
