The decision to raise the price of domestic and industrial gas cylinders more than doubled, sparked a wave of controversy and resentment, especially as it coincided with the increase in electricity prices on the same day.
This controversy prompted the Minister of Internal Trade and Consumer Protection to clarify on his personal page. He wrote: “When a decision is made to raise the price of anything, it is certainly a difficult and painful decision, but the difficult decision is definitely the right decision if it aims to not interrupt a basic material due to increased losses. achieved if the old price is maintained.
He added, “Of course, I did not say that raising gas was unjustified, nor did I deny raising the price, but the law and institutional work require that we not announce a decision that has not yet been issued.”
He continued, “My colleagues and I in the government are studying all alternatives to raising any price, but when we have a choice to ask the people not to raise the price and cause the material to be cut off, and between honesty and realistic work that achieves continuity, we choose to continue.”
He concluded by saying: “As a citizen and as a minister, I bear my responsibility for every decision that I sign, and I will not try to blame others, because I will be a liar if I do, and I adopt this decision and take responsibility for it, but I say, with certainty, confidence and sincerity, that the goal and vision are for the benefit of the citizen first and foremost. And it will be better.”
The decision to raise the prices of gas cylinders coincided with the Ministry of Electricity raising the electric tariff by more than double for all segments consuming them, domestic, industrial, commercial and agricultural, starting this month.
Here, the Director of Planning and International Cooperation in the Ministry of Electricity, Adham Ballan, explained that there are 5 household segments. The first tariff was 1 Syrian Pound, which rose to 2 Syrian Pounds per kilowatt hour. Therefore, whoever paid an average of 600 Syrian Pounds at the old price will pay 1200 Syrian Pounds per month on the new tariff.
While the second tranche has become 6 liras per kilowatt hour, the third has become 20 liras per kilowatt, the fourth tranche has risen to 90 liras, and the fifth and final tranche has become 150 liras per kilowatt.
Electricity was also raised for the industrial sector, and there are also 3 levels, the first was raised to 110 pounds per watt-hour and the second to 115 pounds, while the third level was raised to 120 pounds and the price of a kilowatt-hour for the commercial sector became 100 pounds.
As for the agricultural tariff, it has become 40 Syrian pounds per kilowatt-hour, after it was 12 pounds on the old tariff, but it is still subsidized and it is targeted like the domestic sector.
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