The Syrian government's decision to raise the prices of petroleum derivatives sparked a widespread wave of controversy and discontent in the Syrian street, which was quickly reflected on social media platforms.
The Syrian Ministry of Energy announced an increase in the prices of a number of petroleum derivatives by rates ranging between 25 and 40 percent, in a move it attributed to the exceptional rise in the costs of securing petroleum derivatives in global markets, in conjunction with the ongoing maintenance work at the Baniyas refinery.
وبحسب نشرة جديدة أصدرتها اللجنة الدائمة لتحديد أسعار المواد البترولية والثروات المعدنية في سوريا، ارتفع سعر لتر المازوت من 125 إلى 175 ليرة سورية، بزيادة 40 في المئة.
The price of a liter of 95 octane gasoline also increased from 152 to 195 liras, an increase of about 28.3 percent, and of 90 octane gasoline from 147 to 185 liras, an increase of about 25.9 percent.
The price of domestic gas in the new bulletin reached 1,600 liras, compared to 1,470 liras previously, an increase of about 8.8 percent, while industrial gas rose from 2,350 to 2,560 liras, by about 8.9 percent.
ودخلت الأسعار الجديدة حيز التنفيذ الأحد 13 سبتمبر/أيلول الحالي، وفق النشرة الرسمية.
The repercussions of the decision were not limited to a wave of anger across social media platforms, as the state of discontent spread to the streets, where several Syrian governorates, including Idlib, Hama, and areas in the east of the country, witnessed popular protests in rejection of raising the prices of oil derivatives.
Participants in the protests demanded that the government withdraw the new increases, considering that any increase in fuel prices would add new burdens to citizens. كما دعا المحتجون إلى رفع الأجور بما يتناسب مع الارتفاع في تكاليف المعيشة، ورددوا شعارات تنتقد السياسات الحكومية وتطالب بمحاسبة المسؤولين، من بينها شعار "الشعب يريد إسقاط الوزير".
In Idlib, the protests took a more escalating turn, after a number of protesters blocked the international road linking Damascus and Aleppo at the city of Maarat al-Numan, which obstructed traffic on the road, according to Syrian media reports.
وتعكس هذه التحركات حجم القلق الشعبي من تداعيات رفع أسعار الوقود، في ظل مخاوف من انتقال أثر الزيادة إلى أسعار النقل والسلع النقل والسلع والخدمات، وما قد يترتب على ذلك من مزيد من الضغوط على القدرة الشرائية للمواطنين، وفق رواد على مواقع التواصل الاجتماعي.
The Syrian Ministry of Energy explained that Syria's current need is approximately 300,000 barrels per day of oil and its derivatives, compared to a local production of crude oil of about 100,000 barrels per day, which requires covering part of the needs through imports.
She added that the presence of local production of crude does not mean the possibility of converting all quantities into gasoline and diesel, as part of the Syrian crude is heavy and not fully compatible with the available refining capabilities and specifications, while limited quantities of crude that are not suitable for the needs of refineries are exported, in parallel with the import of products required for the market.
There was a clear division between supporters who saw the increase as a reflection of regional conditions and the energy crisis, and opponents who warned of its repercussions on citizens in light of the rising costs of living and basic services.
Supporters of the decision believe that the rise in fuel prices was not surprising in light of the developments taking place in the energy markets, noting that supply crises, targeting of energy facilities, and closure of strategic roads and waterways were reflected in fuel prices in a number of countries.
One of the tweeters considered that the rise in prices was “basically expected,” noting that prices also rose in neighboring and European countries, but he pointed out that “the shock was the rate of increase.”
On the other hand, other tweeters believe that dealing with the economic crisis requires a greater degree of gradualism, “especially in a country that has recently emerged from a war that left great damage to the infrastructure and economy.”
