The price of a canister of gasoline, in both its types, has increased by 14,000 Lebanese pounds, while the price of diesel fuel and gas cylinders remained stable, according to the price structure table issued by the Ministry of Energy and Water - General Directorate of Oil. The prices are now as follows: 95 octane gasoline: 605,000 pounds; 98 octane gasoline: 617,000 pounds; diesel canister: 647,000 pounds; gas cylinder: 311,000 pounds.
George Brax, a member of the Syndicate of Fuel Station Owners, attributed the release of the gasoline price structure table today to "the Central Bank of Lebanon's shift from securing 100% of the dollars needed to import this material at the exchange rate set on the 'Sayrafa platform' to 85% and the remaining 15% based on the free market dollar exchange rate." This led to an increase of 14,000 pounds in the price of a gasoline canister, bringing it to 605,000 pounds.
Fadi Abu Shaqra, a representative of fuel distributors, told MTV: "We are living in a 'state of turmoil,' and the Central Bank's decision yesterday concerning the purchase of gasoline at 15% from the parallel market means we have returned to the previous phase. If there is no protection for the stations regarding the dollar exchange, we do not know where this might lead us." He added, "Problems have started in the stations, but they will not close, and we assure that there is no issue and that things will move towards a solution."
