By Dilsoz Youssef
HASAKAH, Syria (North Press) – The industrial zone in the town of Tel Tamr in Hasakah Governorate, Northeast Syria, is facing an abnormal slowdown in work. The shortage and expensive free-market price of supported diesel led to rising prices.
Ammar Abdo, owner of a lathing workshop in Tel Tamr, informed North Press about his four-month struggle with a diesel shortage, impacting his work negatively.
His workshop, which used to provide for four families, had to let go of its workers due to the lack of diesel needed to finish the work. He is obligated to buy fuel at the free-market rate of 4,700 SYP (about $0.30).
He explained that production costs used to range up to 10,000 SYP (about $0.33), but now it costs more than 100,000 SYP (about $7) because of this fuel crisis.
Abdo hopes that the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) solve the problem of fuel as it is their source of income to support their families.
Since the beginning of this year, the AANES region have been struggling with a severe fuel shortage as a result of the Turkish bombing of oil facilities, which has caused life difficulties in several areas.
He says that if this issue lasts longer, he will sell his equipment and seek another profession.
Industry is one of the main sectors that provide job opportunities for hundreds of people in light of the economic crisis the country is going through.
Previously, business owners received their monthly fuel allocation from the gas station at a subsidized price of 2,050 SYP. However, they are now compelled to purchase fuel at the market rate, which has led to a 100 percent increase in their operational costs.
While a solution remains elusive, Hamo Sino, the owner of a crane and industrial supply store, reports that he has had to double his fees to maintain business stability.
He told North Press about his struggles, explaining that his business thrived when diesel was available at subsidized rates, allowing him to earn between $75 and $100 depending on the job. However, since the subsidy on diesel was removed, he now has to purchase fuel at market rates and has had to increase his work fees to $200.
Sino continued, noting that with a recent decline in work, the increased costs have led to a broader reduction in business, particularly affecting customers such as farmers.
As the economic sectors deteriorated one after another, the problem of securing fuel worried industrial workshop owners, who feared they might have to close their stores.
Ibrahim, the owner of a workshop for maintaining agricultural machinery, has seen his work deteriorate because of the diesel shortage. While busy repairing a part of a machine running without electricity, he demanded support for the industrial sector to continue his work.
He added that if the current situation continues, they may have to give up because their customers can no longer bear the new prices.
Jwan Mella Ayoub, the co-chair of the Fuel Directorate of the AANES in Hasakah, pointed out that they cut off fuel supplies to industrial facilities because of the shortage after the Turkish attack on fuel facilities in the region.
He added that they have not cut off fuel and industrial support to service facilities like mills and bakeries, providing them with fuel at a subsidized price.
The Fuel Directorate provides fuel for 2,700 SYP per liter for private service sectors, while providing fuel for public ones at 125 SYP per liter.