AMMAN — Jordan's government is facing a difficult
decision regarding setting fuel prices for February, says energy expert Amer
Al-Shobaki.
اضافة اعلان
The
International Monetary Fund (IMF) has called for Jordan
not to reduce the fixed tax value imposed on fuel, leaving the government with
a lack of support in the budget to offset the tax and a potential public outcry
if it increases prices.
As of February, it is expected that the government will
raise the price of a liter of gasoline by 350 fils and raise the
price of a liter of diesel by 250 fils. However, this decision may cause public unrest,
warned Shobaki.
In December 2022, several provinces in the south organized
strikes against rising fuel prices, causing tens of millions of dollars in
losses and halting unloading at the Red Sea port of Aqaba.
To find a middle ground, the government may increase the
price of gasoline and avoid raising the price of diesel, said Shobaki, without
guarantees from either
the public or the IMF.
It should be noted
that the government froze the tax on kerosene under Royal directives at the
beginning of January and reduced the
diesel tax from 16.5 piasters per liter to
13.5 piasters.
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