Overview
- The government announced on Sunday a temporary retail price hike that raised diesel 40% to 175 Syrian pounds per litre and 90/95-octane gasoline roughly 26–28% to 185–195 SYP per litre.
- Protests began within hours of the announcement and continued into a second day with demonstrators burning tyres, blocking the M5 highway and at times preventing oil tankers from moving between refineries and distribution points.
- The Energy Ministry has defended the move as a short-term measure tied to higher global procurement costs and reduced domestic refining while the Baniyas refinery undergoes a months-long overhaul.
- Parliament has responded by summoning Energy Minister Mohammed al-Bashir for a hearing on Thursday to explain the decision, a sign of rising political pressure on the new government.
- Syria produces about 100–102,000 barrels per day but needs roughly 300–325,000 bpd, so the refinery closure and international supply shocks have increased import costs and risk driving up transport, food and other living expenses for a population with roughly 90% living below the poverty line.