Protesters blocked roads and burned tyres in several Syrian cities and towns after the Syrian government raised fuel prices, exposing growing anger over the cost of living and the slow improvement in household conditions. The protests began on Sunday, and parliament has summoned Energy Minister Mohammed al-Bashir to a hearing on rising fuel costs.
The government says the increases are temporary and reflect higher costs for refined petroleum products following the US-Israeli war on Iran and renewed hostilities in Yemen. Officials say Syria’s recovery from decades of economic stagnation and international isolation will take time.
Why the increases are hitting households hard
Fuel costs affect more than transport in Syria. Higher energy prices feed into the cost of food, services and daily business operations, placing additional pressure on households already facing a severe economic crisis. Related coverage: Iran weighs economic survival as Washington threatens harsher sanctions.
The UN’s World Food Programme estimates that around 90 percent of Syrians live in poverty. Syria remains heavily dependent on imported energy because domestic production and refining capacity do not meet national demand.
Key figures
- Diesel prices rose by 40 percent.
- Petrol prices rose by at least 25 percent.
- Cooking gas prices rose by about 9 percent.
- Syria produces around 102,000 barrels of oil per day, compared with domestic needs of about 325,000 barrels per day.
- The Baniyas refinery overhaul aims to increase processing capacity from around 80,000 to 130,000 barrels per day.
Recovery gains have not reached everyone
The protests follow months of complaints about energy costs and frustration that living conditions have not improved since Bashar al-Assad’s government fell in December 2024. Many Syrians had expected both greater freedoms and economic relief after more than a decade of war and the Assad family’s 50-year rule.
The government led by President Ahmed al-Sharaa has focused on securing international legitimacy and removing sanctions. Syria was removed from the US state sponsors of terrorism list in August, following earlier sanctions decisions by the United States, the European Union and other powers, but the resulting investment and economic benefits have yet to provide affordable prices for many people. Read the context: Iran threatens retaliation as US prepares new economic sanctions.
What officials are considering
The Ministry of Energy says prices will continue to be reviewed as global market conditions change. It also plans to expand refining and storage capacity over the long term, while the government is overhauling the Baniyas refinery.
The World Bank has approved around $491m in grants for Syrian infrastructure and economic development since last year. After a July visit, the International Monetary Fund recommended stronger revenue collection, more selective spending and a larger social safety net for the most vulnerable.
What happens next
Parliament is expected to hear from Energy Minister Mohammed al-Bashir on rising fuel costs, while the Ministry of Energy continues reviewing prices as global market conditions change.
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