Syrians Protest Fuel Price Hikes, Block Roads Amid Economic Strain
According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, widespread protests and road blockades have been reported across multiple Syrian provinces on Sunday following a sharp increase in fuel prices. The demonstrations highlight significant public dissatisfaction with the measure’s impact on daily life, particularly its direct link to transportation, heating, and various other sectors and services.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that areas including Hasakah, Deir Ezzor, Raqqa, and the Aleppo countryside have witnessed public demonstrations after the fuel price hike. Some of these protests involved protesters blocking roads.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights stated that these protests are occurring as calls for public demonstrations have intensified in several Syrian regions following an approximate 40% increase in fuel prices.
Syria’s Ministry of Energy confirmed that the fuel price increase is attributed to the exceptional rise in global procurement costs for these products, coupled with the temporary shutdown of the Baniyas refinery for maintenance. The Syrian market is experiencing the impact of increased global costs for gasoline, diesel, and fuel oil, while the Baniyas refinery is undergoing a complete two-month repair shutdown, temporarily increasing the need for refined product imports.
The ministry elaborated that the current price increase is not solely due to crude oil prices. The refined petroleum products market is also under pressure from reduced supply, disruptions in refining capacity, and escalating transportation, shipping, and insurance costs, all of which contribute to higher procurement expenses for the Syrian market.
The ministry indicated that Syria’s current daily requirement is approximately 300,000 barrels of oil and its derivatives, while domestic crude oil production stands at around 100,000 barrels per day. This necessitates the procurement of a portion of the country’s needs through imports.
