Energy Minister eager increasing gas oil prices
El Khabar, 4 may 2008
The Minister of Energy and Mines, Mr. Chakib Khelil has suggested the creation of a fund in view of subsidizing gas oil prices increasing, following the refusal of the Parliament Representatives approving it within the current year budget law. In this context, the Minister has shown his intention of proposing a gas oil price increase, justifying such a decision by the bad impacts of such fuel on environment, as it is the most polluting and costing fuel. The Minister has justified his proposal by the increasing gas oil imports hitting $200 million last year, so he proposed imposing taxes on gas oil, in order to increase its price, and to reduce its consumption countrywide, but the Parliament Representatives have repeatedly refused the Minister’s project for several times. Moreover, Mr. Khelil will submit its new proposition this year to Parliament, while indicating that the fund he is intending to create for gas oil prices whose incomes will destined for subsidizing public transport charges. The fund incomes will be allocated for agriculture subsidizing. According to the Minister, new taxes will be imposed on gas oil increasing its price.
04-05-2008 By S.B / Translation Section
