Third day in row of harsh weather | Alternative heating materials shortages and prices skyrocket in Idlib markets

Syrian Observatory activists have monitored a severe shortage of alternative heating materials in Idlib markets and its countryside, and a significant increase in the prices of some types of heating materials.

Here are the prices of some alternative heating materials:

• Pistachio shells: 4.4 Turkish liras per kilo \ 220 Turkish liras per 50 kilos.

• Hazelnut shells: 3.50 Turkish liras per kilo.

• Coal: 160 Turkish liras per bag.

• Pyrene: 180 Turkish liras per bag.

These soaring prices come amid an acute shortage of pistachios shells, hazelnuts shells and pyrin in the market.

Local sources have told the Syrian Observatory that shortages of these kinds of shells in markets are due to the imports of these shells from Turkey via “Bab Al-Hawa crossing,” high import prices, and the plummets of the Turkish lira against the USD.

It is worth noting that some alternative heating materials are imported from countries, such as Iran and Ukraine, and Turkey.

For several years, the entire population of northern Syria has relied on various types of alternative heating materials such as firewood, pyrene, pistachios, coal, etc., to be used for heating because of the soaring fuel prices to an unaffordable extent.

According to “Watad” Petroleum company that monopoly the fuel in Idlib, the price of imported gasoline per litre has reached 17 Turkish liras, while the price of diesel per litre has reached 15 Turkish liras.

It is worth noting that since the evening of Thursday, March 10, the northern Syrian regions were hit by snowfall, rainfall and high winds which increased the demand for heating materials.