Decision to form permanent committee for fuel pricing as protests over rising costs continue

The Syrian Minister of Energy has issued Decree No. /822/ of 2026, stipulating the formation of a "Permanent Committee for Determining the Prices of Petroleum Products and Mineral Resources."

According to the decree, the committee includes representatives from the Ministry of Energy, the Ministry of Finance, the Central Bank of Syria, the Syrian Petroleum Company, and the Fuel Company, in addition to delegates from other relevant ministries and government institutions, chaired by the Deputy Minister of Energy for Oil Affairs.

The decree states that "the committee will be responsible for studying the pricing of petroleum products and mineral resources in light of local and international variables, including global prices, production and transport costs, the exchange rate of the Syrian pound, and subsidy mechanisms. It will also set the principles and criteria for pricing and regularly update them, while submitting recommendations to the Minister of Energy."

The formation of the committee comes amid ongoing protests across Syria over rising fuel prices and deteriorating living conditions, particularly in areas under the Autonomous Administration in North and East Syria, where recent fuel price hikes have triggered widespread public discontent.

Several cities and towns have witnessed strikes by public transport drivers in protest against rising operating costs, alongside calls to reinstate fuel subsidies allocated to the transport sector.

Bakery owners and operators of service-related businesses have also staged protests over increased operational burdens, while some neighbourhoods have experienced disruptions to electricity supply from generator-based systems running on diesel. This followed rising fuel costs and shortages, further intensifying the living strain on residents.

Observers say the formation of the new committee comes amid growing debate over fuel pricing policies and their impact on various economic and service sectors, against a backdrop of public demands for mechanisms that balance market requirements with citizens' capacity to absorb rising living costs.

ANHA