Energy Expert Claims Pressure Behind Sulaymaniyah Fuel Price Hike

PUKMEDIA

Fuel Prices Rise in Sulaymaniyah as Pressure Mounts on Petrol Stations.

Fuel prices have increased across Sulaymaniyah Governorate, matching recent rises in Erbil and Duhok, while an energy expert has claimed that petrol stations in Sulaymaniyah have been pressured to align their prices with those in the other two provinces.

Bahjat Ahmed, an expert in energy and oil and gas contracts, told PUKMEDIA that petrol stations in Sulaymaniyah had come under pressure to raise fuel prices in line with those in other parts of the Kurdistan Region. He said the increase followed a three-day suspension in the supply of commercial fuel from Lanaz and KAR to the governorate.

Petrol prices in Sulaymaniyah rose on Thursday morning, with Super petrol increasing to 1,700 dinars per litre, Muhassan petrol to 1,550 dinars per litre, and Normal petrol to 1,200 dinars per litre. Each grade has risen by 100 dinars per litre compared with previous prices.

Commenting on the situation, Bahjat Ahmed said: "The supply of petrol to Sulaymaniyah has been blocked for several days, resulting in a 100-dinar increase in the price of every litre of fuel. The Sulaymaniyah administration must intensify its efforts to prevent any further rises in fuel prices across the city."

Fuel prices throughout the Kurdistan Region have remained elevated for almost a month following the suspension of Dana Gas operations. The disruption has contributed to fuel and gas shortages in Erbil and Duhok, prompting some residents of Erbil to travel to Koya and Rania to purchase petrol.

Although fuel prices in Sulaymaniyah had risen to a lesser extent and the local administration's measures helped prevent a fuel crisis similar to those in Erbil and Duhok, attempts are now being made to extend the crisis to Sulaymaniyah Governorate and bring fuel prices into line with those in Erbil and Duhok.


PUKMEDIA