Fuel price hikes spark protests in Syria

Protests started in many cities in Syria following the fuel price increases announced over the weekend.

While the demonstrators blocked the roads by burning tires, it was reported that transportation was also disrupted on the main highway connecting the capital Damascus and Aleppo, one of the country's important industrial centers.

The Damascus administration, under the control of Jihadist Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), increased the liter price of diesel by 40 percent to 175 Syrian lira. The government also made new increases in gasoline and gas prices. The increases have further increased the subsistence pressure on millions of Syrians who are struggling with one of the most severe economic crises in the country in recent years.

According to the new tariff, the liter price of 95 octane gasoline was increased by 28 percent to 195 lira, and 90 octane gasoline was increased by 26 percent to 185 lira.

There was an increase of approximately 9 percent in domestic and industrial gas prices.

With the latest increases, the price of 95 octane gasoline has increased by approximately 86 percent since February, while the price of diesel has more than doubled.

In the same period, the barrel price of Brent oil increased by approximately 44 percent, rising from $72.48 to $104.61.

PROTESTERS BLOCKED MAIN ROADS

The demonstrations that started after the fuel price hikes spread to many cities in a short time.

While protesters blocked various main arteries, including the Damascus-Aleppo highway, the passage of crude oil tankers heading towards refineries in the central parts of the country was also blocked at some points.

Slogans demanding the dismissal of the Minister of Energy, the Minister of Economy and the executives of the Syrian Oil Company were also chanted during the demonstrations.

According to the evaluations of the United Nations Development Programme, approximately 90 percent of Syrians live below the poverty line.

This rate was approximately one third before the civil war that started in 2011.

The increase in fuel costs is expected to be reflected in the prices of food, agricultural and industrial products, as well as transportation.

GOVERNMENT: THE INCREASES ARE TEMPORARY

Syrian Ministry of Energy Spokesperson Abdulhamid Salat argued that the price increases were temporary.

Salat said that the increases were due to the rise in global energy costs, Syria's dependence on imported fuel and difficulties in the supply of petroleum products.

The Ministry announced that prices may be revised downwards or upwards if conditions change. The Syrian Ministry of Energy also reported that the increases ranged between 25 percent and 40 percent and were due to extraordinary supply conditions.

Syria meets a significant part of its energy needs through imports.

It is stated that the Damascus administration purchased approximately 60 thousand barrels of crude oil per day from Russia this year.

However, Ukraine's attacks on Russian refineries have suppressed fuel production and export capacity in Russia. Moscow also imposed various restrictions on gasoline and diesel exports in order to protect the supply in the domestic market.

The International Energy Agency revised its forecasts for Russia's oil production downwards following the Ukrainian attacks.

BANİYAS REFINERY HAS BEEN CLOSED FOR THREE MONTHS

Another factor that increases the fuel shortage in Syria is that the Baniyas Refinery, one of the country's largest oil processing facilities, is out of action due to extensive maintenance work.

One of the first comprehensive modernization and maintenance operations has been carried out at the refinery in about three months.

Within the scope of the works, production units, distillation facilities, power plant and security infrastructure are being renewed. Syrian Oil Company aims to increase the daily processing capacity of the refinery from approximately 80 thousand barrels to 130 thousand barrels when the works are completed.

Experts point out that the sharp increase in diesel and gasoline prices may increase not only transportation costs but also food production, agriculture, industry and logistics expenses.

In particular, the price increase of diesel prices has more than doubled in a short time, raising concerns that the pressure on low-income segments will increase even more.