Gas prices in Syrian government-held areas soar up
DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – Syrian Ministry of Internal Trade and Consumer Protection issued a decision on Sunday evening to determine the price of a household gas cylinder.
Seen by North Press, the decision stated that a ten-kilo gas cylinder will be sold for 30,000 SYP (about $9), while a one of sixteen-kilo will be sold for 40,000 SYP (about $12), in the government selling centers.
Previously, the government sold a gas cylinder for about 3,000 SYP (about $0.95), which families had to wait about three months to obtain.
Meanwhile, the price of a gas cylinder has reached about 100,000 SYP on the black market, amid the scarcity of the substance for about a year.
Observers described the decision as a “government attempt to control the sale of gas on the black market.”
Amro Salem, Minister of Internal Trade and Consumer Protection of the Syrian government, said that raising the price of domestic and industrial gas will not affect the citizen.
Justifying the expected increase in gas prices, Salem pointed out that this would help the availability of gas more than it is now, especially with the coming winter season.
The Syrian minister added, the world is witnessing a domestic gas crisis, and high transportation costs, and that importing gas to Syria is very complicated.