Page 8 - MEOG Week 35 2022
P. 8
MEOG POLICY & SECURITY MEOG
Iraqi Ministry keen to ensure
adequate supplies during heat wave
IRAQ IRAQ’S Ministry of Oil (MoO) said last week sell more diesel fuel for use in generators and
that it was working to ensure that all regions of to establish facilities in all non-regional gov-
the country are adequately supplied with diesel ernorates for diesel sales, he noted. It also fixes
in the face of a heat wave that has been gripping domestic diesel prices at the below-market level
the country this summer. of IQD250 ($0.17) per litre so that privately
In a statement dated August 23, Hamid owned generators can make up for electricity
Younis, the ministry’s undersecretary for dis- shortages, he added.
tribution, said officials in Baghdad were aware Younis urged Iraqis not to take advantage of
that demand for diesel, along with other refined the artificially low prices, saying that the MoO
petroleum products, had risen this summer intended to monitor the domestic fuel market
because of the high temperatures. closely in order to prevent hoarding, smuggling
Iraq is currently consuming around 30mn and black market trading. The ministry will work
litres per day of diesel, up from 22mn lpd a year with the security forces to conduct checks of dis-
ago, and the increase is attributable in large part tribution hubs and other sites, he stated.
to the greater use of privately owned diesel-fired Baghdad is also striving to ensure that gaso-
generators, he explained. line supplies are adequate around the country,
Meanwhile, the MoO has been working to meaning that consumers drivers have no need
supply enough diesel to meet demand in accord- to hoard fuel, the undersecretary continued. The
ance with a resolution issued by the Council of MoO is making large volumes of gasoline availa-
Ministers in July, he said. ble to filling stations and distribution facilities in
That resolution obligates the ministry to both Baghdad and in the governorates, he said.
P8 www. NEWSBASE .com Week 35 31•August•2022
