New austerity measures include subsidized gasoline in Syria

The Ministry of Oil in Syria on Sunday stopped supplying cars that consume more fuel with subsidized gasoline, in a new austerity measure that reflects Damascus’ need to provide expenditures and oil derivatives.

Syria is suffering, especially in the last two years, from a significant shortage of energy resources, especially gasoline and household gas cylinders, which prompted the government to take a series of austerity measures, in order to rationalize consumption.

The Minister of Oil and Mineral Resources, Ali Ghanem, announced that it would stop supplying private cars with an engine capacity of “2000cc” and above, and everyone who owns more than one car, whether it is an individual or a company, with subsidized gasoline, provided that the revenues that will be provided in “service projects” and developmental did not specify what it is.

Private cars, regardless of the capacity of their engine, were entitled to a hundred liters of subsidized gasoline per month, provided that their owners bear the expense of any additional quantity.

And those covered by the decision must now secure fuel for their cars at their own expense, that is, at the unsupported price, which is fixed at nine thousand Syrian pounds (approximately $ 12) for the gasoline tank (20 liters), while they were receiving only five thousand pounds.

The Syrian Minister of oil and mineral resources explained, according to statements posted by the Syrian official news agency, “SANA”, that “oil derivatives and crude oil supplied to Syria do not only come at its international prices, but with added values ​​on transportation fees and remittances as a result of coercive economic measures” imposed on the government.

He explained that the decision “removes the subsidy in part from just nine percent” of cars.

The decision sparked criticism on social media and Syrian general public opinion”.

Government officials constantly blame the fuel crisis on economic sanctions imposed by several Arab and Western countries, which prevented the arrival of oil tankers.

And the US sanctions against Tehran, Damascus’ most prominent supporter, have exacerbated the fuel crisis in Syria, which depends on a line of credit that links it to Iran to secure it.

The Syrian Minister of oil and mineral resources Ali Ghanem said a few days ago that his country needs 146 thousand barrels of crude oil per day, while the product is currently 24 thousand barrels, meaning that the daily gap is 122 thousand barrels.

Syria’s oil production before the outbreak of the conflict in 2011 was about 400,000 barrels per day.

But the sector has suffered major losses, and most of the oil and gas fields remain under the control of the US-backed Syria Democratic Forces in the north and east of the country.

Syria is witnessing a severe economic crisis, coinciding with the successive collapse of the local currency, which is reflected in the increase in prices of most commodities.

The largest part of the Syrians is living below the poverty line, according to the United Nations.

The World Food Program estimated food prices to rise by 107 percent in one year.