By Sanaullah Ataullah
DOHA: Many in Qatar desperately wait for the winter to arrive as the weather is pleasant, but for Mohamed Murshid, who sells firewood for winter camp-goers, the cold weather is the only time he can hope to make some money — effortlessly at that.
Last Saturday, when the mercury plunged and most people preferred to be indoors, Murshid, like many of his ilk, was out with a mini-truck, parked in an Al Murra suburb.
He looked at the skies with hope and prayed it rained so the cold could get bitter — and his business prospects better. Just then came to a halt a Land Cruiser and a citizen behind the wheel demanded to know the price of the whole truckload of the firewood Murshid would otherwise sell in a whole day.
Murshid replied, not sure if the national would buy all his wares: “3,500 riyals”. To Murshsid’s surprise, the citizen said nothing and handed the cash, asking him to deliver the firewood to his camp in the desert.
The cold weather that hit the country last Thursday led to a sudden surge in demand for camp firewood.
Murshid and the others like him said they sold large quantities of firewood worth some QR3,500 a day in the cold weather.
Firewood prices range between QR10 and QR30 for a bundle of some four to five kilogrammes each.
The prices are based on the quality of wood depending on whether it is imported and has aroma, which is generally preferred by citizens.
“We have four types of camp firewood: local and three other types that are imported,” said Murshid.
Sidr is the local firewood and costs QR10 to QR15 per bale. Gharat is imported from the United Arab Emirates and available in the local market for QR25 to QR30 a bale.
Gharat is more expensive than the local firewood because it has a sweet smell and turns red after being set on fire. Olive firewood, which is imported from Morocco and Syria, also has a sweet smell and costs QR25 to QR30 per bale. Ballut is from Lebanon, burns longer and costs QR20 per bundle.
Qatari camp-goers buy firewood in bulk for camp fire. Many camps dot Qatar’s picturesque dunes in the winter months driving demand.
“Usually, we sell a small truckload of firewood within two to three days but the demand has increased due to the cold,” said Murshid.
Some people buy five bundles, others take ten. Some customers ask for only one bundle, said Murshid.
“We also did pretty good business last year but this year the demand is growing. Probably, this winter is colder than the last one”, said Murshid.
“We began selling firewood this season from November 1 last year and expect to continue till March 15, said Murshid.
The Peninsula
