PNN – Syrian sources have reported widespread protests and road blockades across various parts of the country.
According to the report of Pakistan News Network citing Al-Shorouk; several Syrian provinces witnessed widespread protests and road closures on Sunday following a hike in fuel prices.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that areas in Al-Hasakah, Deir ez-Zor, Raqqa, and the countryside of Aleppo are seeing demonstrations and public protests in the wake of the fuel price increase.
Some of these protests involved the blocking of roads by demonstrators. This comes amidst widespread discontent among Syrians regarding the decision’s impact on their daily lives—particularly given the direct link between fuel prices and transportation, heating, and numerous other sectors and services.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that these protests are taking place as calls for public demonstrations and protests have intensified across several regions of Syria following a nearly 40 percent hike in fuel prices.
The Syrian Ministry of Energy confirmed that the rise in fuel prices in the country was driven by an exceptional increase in the global cost of procuring these products, coinciding with the shutdown of the Baniyas refinery for maintenance. The Syrian market has been affected by the global surge in costs for gasoline, diesel, and fuel oil—occurring precisely when the Baniyas refinery is undergoing a complete shutdown for repairs lasting nearly two months, a situation that temporarily drives up the need for petroleum product imports.
The ministry announced that the current price hike is not solely attributable to the price of crude oil. The market for petroleum products is also under pressure due to reduced supply, disruptions in refining capacity, and rising costs associated with transport, shipping, and insurance—all of which contribute to the increased cost of supplying petroleum products to the Syrian market.
The ministry stated that Syria’s current requirements stand at approximately 300,000 barrels per day of oil and petroleum derivatives, whereas domestic crude oil production is around 100,000 barrels per day. This necessitates meeting a portion of the demand through imports.