Gov’t raises gas price, lowers cost of kerosene, diesel

AMMAN –– The government on Saturday decided to raise the price of gasoline by 5 fils, and reduced kerosene and diesel prices also by 5 fils.  

Based on a decision taken by the pricing committee, effective June 1 through June 30, one litre of unleaded 90-octane gasoline will be sold at JD0.845, up from JD0.840 in May, while one litre of 95-octane will cost JD1.030, compared with JD1.025.

Prices of both diesel and kerosene were lowered to JD0.670 per litre on the new price list, from JD0.675, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

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 cooking 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 of 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.