Fadi Abu Shacra, representative of fuel distributors in Lebanon, confirmed that gasoline is available and that they will continue to distribute it to the stations that will remain open. Regarding the statement from the assembly of importing companies, Abu Shacra told "MTV": "We hope that the officials will respond to them so that every rightful owner can receive his right. The citizen does not need rumors, especially with the situation in the south; we don’t need more crises or queues."
In this context, Maroun Shamas, president of the oil importing companies' assembly, told "Voice of Lebanon": "The occurrence of a fuel crisis is in the hands of the authorities, whether executive or legislative, because a clause proposing an exceptional fine of 10% of the volume of business has been added to the budget for companies benefiting from support." He added, "The beneficiary of the support is the citizen, not the companies, as the state is the one that supported the dollar exchange rate, so we are surprised by the imposition of a tax on the volume of business for companies." Shamas confirmed that representatives of the importing fuel companies have sought clarifications from the relevant authorities in recent days, but they have not yet received a satisfactory response. What we know is that many deputies were not aware of the content of the clause related to the exceptional fine on companies.
