The military authorities announced the seizure of 9,160 liters of fuel of the fuel type and about 818 liters of gasoline in northern Lebanon and in the Bekaa valley.
2 Lebanese nationals and one Syrian national were arrested in connection with the operation aimed at dismantling networks for smuggling subsidized products to Syria and were referred to the competent judicial authorities.
Fuel smuggling would be the cause of shortages in Lebanon, accused outgoing energy minister Raymond Ghajjar on April 16.
Despite an increase in the price of gasoline of more than 50% in Lebanon, a can of gasoline costs around three dollars while in Syria, the same can cost between 7 and 13 dollars. For now, the minister specifies that the quantities of gasoline thus illegally exported are unknown.
This information comes as the fuel subsidy program should end at the end of the month due to the decrease in the Bank of Lebanon’s available monetary reserves, announced its governor Riad Salamé.
In addition, the latter had also indicated in a letter addressed to the outgoing Minister of Finance Ghazi Wazni that the Bank of Lebanon would face difficulties from the correspondent banks in obtaining the lines of credit necessary for the purchase of fuel. , medicines or even flour coming under the program of subsidies for the purchase of basic necessities.
He also called for the program to be streamlined, with the establishment of cards for the benefit of the most vulnerable people.
