Lebanese authorities finally decided to take more effective measures to put an end to the long-going smuggling of subsidized fuel from Lebanon into Syria.
The measures consist of the following:
- Restricting the movement of fuel tankers from 7 a.m. until 5 p.m. in the area around Lebanon’s borders with Syria.
- The Ministry of Energy and Water now requires from concerned parties two inventories detailing, one, the names of gasoline distributors and, two, the names of stations and other recipients,
- Information about the quantity of consumption and the weekly average in previous years must be also submitted.
Based on these listings, importers and distributors will be instructed and required not to exceed the declared rate of distribution and quantities.
The authorities will reportedly ensure compliance and enforce legal action against violators in coordination with the Ministry of Economy and Trade.
Furthermore, the Minister of Energy and Water was requested to implement at once the provisions of Decree No. 1358 that allows confiscation of all fuel products, equipment, facilities, and transportation means, including stations and the labor needed to secure the supply of petroleum products to the public.
“Security services are entrusted with taking the necessary measures to ensure immediate implementation of this decision,” reported NNA.
These decisions ensued during a meeting this Friday between caretaker Prime Minister Hassan Diab and the concerned ministers and security officials, including the Army Commander and the Directors General of the ISF, the General Security, and the State Security, to address the problem of fuel smuggling.
