Fuel prices rise by 1.5%

AMMAN –– Prices of main oil derivatives rose by 1.5 per cent on Saturday.

Under a decision taken by the government’s pricing committee, effective March 1, one litre of unleaded 90-octane gasoline is now sold at JD0.835, up from JD0.820 last month, while one litre of 95-octane is JD1.015 compared with JD1 in January.

Both diesel and kerosene are JD0.680 per litre on the new price list, up from JD0.670.

The price of cooking gas, which is also used by households for heating purposes, remains unchanged at JD10 per cylinder under the committee’s decision, which was announced by Minister of Industry, Trade and Supply Hatem Halawani.

Fuel prices, except for gas, are no longer subsidised by the government, which lifted oil subsidies in November 2012.

A government pricing committee meets monthly to adjust prices in a manner that corresponds to changes on the international market.

The committee, comprising representatives from the ministries of energy and finance, and the Jordan Petroleum Refinery Company, calculates the updates based on average international prices during the preceding 30 days and other costs, such as freight and handling, and announces a new price list every month.