AMMAN — An energy expert expects
that the price of oil sold in local markets will decrease by 1.5 to 3 percent at
the end of the current month, which would work out to about 1.5 to 2 piasters
for each liter of 90-grade gasoline, 95-grade gasoline, diesel, and kerosene.
اضافة اعلان
“This drop will be the first ... after
six hikes in the prices of these commodities in the current year 2021,” said
Amer Al-Shoubaki, in remarks to
Jordan News.
Shoubaki added that the “world’s
oil prices have witnessed the largest weekly decline in nine months and since
the end of last year.
This is because many countries around the world have
responded to the high rate of infection due to the mutated Delta variant by
adding travel restrictions to stop its spread.”
“China has imposed stricter port
controls causing congestion, countries including Australia, Japan, and Thailand
have increased travel restrictions and global demand for jet fuel has fallen
after improving for most of the summer,” he said.
“Brent crude fell 8 percent
for the week, to settle at $65.18 a barrel, its lowest level since April. West
Texas crude fell to $62.32 a barrel on Friday, losing more than 9 percent for
the week.”
“Jordan can benefit from the drop
in
oil prices through filling up its strategic reserves, which would help
reduce the oil bill over months to come,” Shoubaki said.
“In general, the collapse of oil
rates also contribute in maintaining the dollar reserves at the Central Bank of
Jordan and enhancing the purchasing power of Jordanians.” He said.
The recent rise in oil prices has
put a strain on the economy and normal people, with the majority of citizens
Jordan News spoke with saying the recent oil hikes have hit their wallets at a
time when the pandemic’s effects are still being felt.
The government has raised the
prices of oil six times this year, the last of which was at the beginning of
August, where the price for a liter of 90-grade gasoline reached 0.83 piasters,
the price for a liter of 95-grade gasoline reached JD1.07, and the price for a
liter of diesel and kerosene reached 61.5 piasters.
Ahmad Tawil, a citizen, told
Jordan
News that "I used to work in a company before the pandemic and I lost
my job right after it occurred.”
Tawil added: "We pay for
rent, bills, and daily expenses — I cannot bear or manage any other payments
any more, our government should find us real solutions."
"I sometimes feel that
Jordan is one of the most expensive countries in the world, even more expensive
than Dubai for instance, at least there they have a great income that can help
them in living.
I think immigration is the best and last decision left for
me," he said.
Rami Marwan, another citizen,
told
Jordan News that "I cannot blame the country for raising oil
prices, especially since the raise is global now but I can blame them for not
helping us find work, especially since unemployment is increasing more year by
year, which is a dangerous signal."
Heba Qunibi, another citizen,
told
Jordan News that "one third of my salary goes towards gasoline
for my car which is not fair.
Here in Jordan you can never save money for the
future because even your salary does not last for a month."
Jordanian Alaa Hammad, told
Jordan
News that he thought the hikes were fair since it is an international
issue.
However, a lack of jobs and money is making the hikes especially
painful, he said.
Mahmoud Nasser, a taxi driver,
told
Jordan News that “we as taxi drivers are suffering to death, our
only salary comes from our work as drivers, but now, in light of the pandemic
and rising oil prices I can say that we have no income.”
“I pay almost half of my income
on gasoline, the government should notice that the increase on prices affects
us differently; it may not make a difference for rich people but for people
like us it does,” he said. “We need every piaster.”
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