Losses due to "sudden pricing" for gas station owners

In a scene that has become all too common in most Syrian cities, gas stations are suffering from partial or complete halts in the supply of gasoline and diesel, amidst long queues and suffocating congestion unseen in the provinces for a long time.

Behind this scene, station owners face a difficult dilemma: balancing their obligation to supply the market with the direct financial risks threatening their investments, all under a pricing policy described as sudden and unstable.

Heavy losses affecting everyone

Gas station owners in various Syrian provinces reveal the extent of the losses they have incurred due to the sudden price drops. Large quantities of gasoline and diesel are purchased at the old price, and when the new price is issued, they are required to sell it at a price difference of up to 1,800 Syrian pounds per liter.

This difference is borne solely by the station owner, without any compensation or periodic audits by the relevant authorities. This has led to the accumulation of significant debt for many, pushing some to the brink of bankruptcy.

The absence of protection mechanisms increases risks.

Those working in the sector point out that the lack of clear compensation mechanisms, or permanent committees to assess the quantities available at stations with each price change, puts them in a vulnerable position. There is no guarantee to protect them from market fluctuations.

Every time a new price is announced, station owners are the biggest losers, without official institutions covering the differences or even objectively assessing inventory.

Fear of further reductions paralyzes the market.

The situation is further complicated by official statements about reviewing prices periodically every 15 days, accompanied by expectations of further reductions. This has made many station owners across Syria hesitant to order new quantities of diesel and gasoline, fearing that the next reduction will come just days after they purchase the fuel, causing them to lose again.

As a result, the decision to pump and refill has become contingent on precise profit and loss calculations, in the absence of any indicators of price stability.

Currency Gap: A Structural Obstacle

In addition to price volatility, gas station owners suffer from a structural problem related to the currency gap. While official bodies and the Ministry of Energy deal in Syrian pounds, station owners find themselves forced to rely on their frozen dollar reserves in banks to cover operating costs and financial obligations. This creates a mismatch between funding sources and the needs of the local market, further complicating the financial equation and weakening their ability to continue supplying fuel.

Impacts on Citizens' Lives Across All Governorates

These circumstances directly impact Syrian citizens everywhere. In Damascus and its surrounding countryside, sales have exceeded 300% of the normal rate, forcing drivers to wait for hours. In Aleppo, many stations have closed, while the coastal, central, and southern governorates have witnessed the same scenes of long queues and severe shortages. The suffering is not limited to delays in supply; it extends to unofficial price hikes in the parallel market, further burdening ordinary citizens.

The fuel is available, but hesitation prevails.

Gas station owners confirm that the fuel is indeed available in warehouses and refineries, but the decision to distribute it to stations remains contingent on a state of anticipation and caution. They do not want to incur further losses in the absence of any official guarantees. They believe the solution lies not in blaming them for monopolization or manipulation, but rather in adopting an independent and transparent pricing mechanism, forming periodic inventory committees to compensate for price differences, and providing a stable environment that allows the sector to operate without fear of bankruptcy.

Ultimately, what Syria is witnessing today is not due to a shortage of raw materials, but rather a reflection of an unstable pricing policy and the absence of protective mechanisms. This forces everyone—gas station owners and citizens alike—to pay a heavy price at a time when the need for radical solutions that ensure market stability and alleviate the suffering of Syrians in every governorate is growing.