Fuel Directorate explains price increase amid public discontent

The Fuel Directorate in the Jazira region announced on Sunday an increase in the price of subsidized premium gasoline for the transport sector from 450 Syrian pounds to $0.55 per liter. It also set the price of unsubsidized gasoline at $1.00 per liter, up from 5,650 Syrian pounds per liter.

At the same context, the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) set the price of diesel allocated to public generators and bakeries at 125 Syrian pounds per liter, while diesel on the free market is currently sold for between $0.75 and $0.88 per liter. The price gap has forced a number of private generator operators, who rely on purchasing diesel from the free market, to suspend operations.

A source told ANHA agency that the increase in gasoline prices was driven by several factors, including the transfer of oil sector management to a U.S. company, which the source said had reduced the region's fuel allocation. The source also cited the ongoing integration process with the Syrian government and widespread fuel smuggling to other areas as key contributors to the current crisis, where some taxi drivers have been purchasing subsidized gasoline within areas administered by AANES and reselling it at higher prices outside the region, contributing to fuel shortages and market distortions.

Public discontent

Taxi driver Serdar Mohamed expressed frustration over the decision, saying: "The price of a liter of gasoline has risen to between 8,000 and 8,500 Syrian pounds today. How are we supposed to set passenger fares?" He added, "If we calculate fares based on the new gasoline price, a single transport could cost 20,000 Syrian pounds, an amount that many workers simply cannot afford. The quality of the gasoline is also poor, causing frequent vehicle breakdowns."

Mohamed acknowledged that fuel smuggling does occur but said it is limited, arguing that imposing measures affecting all drivers because of the actions of a few is unfair.

Another taxi driver, Jwan Joudy, said the decision would further increase the financial burden on those working in the transport sector, adding that the sharp rise in fuel prices has created a severe challenge for both motorists and the general public.

Markets almost deserted

Resident Behzat Abdel Fattah criticized the increase in gasoline and diesel prices, saying: "The markets are now nearly empty because people can no longer afford transportation costs." He added that many workers now need to spend tens of thousands of Syrian pounds each day simply to commute to and from work, in addition to covering their other daily living expenses.

ANHA