Fuel prices rise in the Syrian northwest as Turkey prepares to invade the east of Euphrates
Areas of northwestern Syria which are controlled by Hayyaat Tahrir al-Sham and the armed factions, witnessed a fuel crisis during the past week and a sharp rise in prices of local oil derivatives, where the prices of diesel and gas increased by nearly 50%, which caused the prices of many of materials that need diesel in their work, this rise coincides with Turkish preparations for a military offensive against the SDF in the east Euphrates, where the availability of fuel in areas of control of the Turkey-loyal factions and areas of control of Tahrir al-Sham; is connected to the security stability in the oil-rich areas east of Euphrates, which provide raw and refined oil (primitive refining) to areas of the northern countryside of Aleppo before moving them to Idlib and its countryside through Afrin area, which threatens to lose these materials from the markets shortly due to their heavy consumption, but the rumors of the battle prompted traders to store large quantities of fuel months ago, fearing the sudden start of the battle and the closure of the crossing by the Syria Democratic Forces during the clashes period in east Euphrates areas.
The Syrian Observatory monitored the rise in prices of fuels in areas of Idlib by more than 50%, where a barrel of gasoline became about 80 thousand Syrian pounds, the price per barrel was less than 60 thousand Syrian pounds, and prices continue to increase with an increase in the demand for fuels as winter approaches and the use of Mazut for heating, also the increase coincides with the start of olive harvest season and operating the olive mills, which are famous for cultivating and producing oil in all of the areas northwest of Syria, also the burden on citizens id increase through the additional costs in prices of electricity, water, bread, and transportation expenses.
Sources told the “Syrian Observatory” that ” Watad Petroleum Company” is considered the controller of oil sector both local and imported types, and is responsible of the availability of fuels in areas of control of Hayyaat Tahrir al-Sham without any competitor, and it monopolizes this trade supported by Hayyaat Tahrir al-Sham and other parties, and it contributed to the stability of prices for a long after it eliminated all its rival traders, to become currently the first competitor of the citizens, whose surrounding forces compete to humiliate them in clashes they have got nothing to do with, after they had enough on the northern borders, and after the displacement pf residents of the northern countryside of Hama, southern and eastern countryside of Idlib, and Khan Shaykhun city, while the Turkey-loyal factions are heading to the clashes east of Euphrates with strength and enthusiasm, forgetting the tragedies of their people in Idlib.