Petroleum Sector on Strike to Demand Government Action
The owners of gas stations and tank trucks held a sit-in outside the energy ministry on Thursday to protest rising oil prices during a planned one-day strike.
Around 100 oil tank trucks also parked on the Emile Lahoud highway from the Sayyad roundabout all the way to the ministry headquarters and Karantina, causing bumper-to-bumper traffic.
The head of gas stations owners Sami Brax told Voice of Lebanon radio (100.5) that Thursday’s strike was successful after most of the petroleum sector abided by it.
But he warned that “our measures will remain open-ended if today’s strike did not reach any results.”
Gas station owners and fuel distributors have demanded the government to increase their royalties from a surcharge on the transfer of oil-related material to 7.5 percent.
But Energy Minister Jebran Bassil said during a press conference that the demands of the owners of gas stations are “illogical and unacceptable.”
Experts have warned that the prices of gasoline could reach up to LL40,000 per 20 liters if oil prices continue to rise internationally.
Gasoline prices rose again on Wednesday by LL500, reaching LL37,400 for the 98-octane graded fuel and LL36,700 for the 95-octane.
The energy ministry releases its weekly price update every Wednesday.
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