Government Rolls Back Diesel Price Hike With Subsidized Tiers After Nationwide Protests

Facing a week of nationwide protests, Syria's Energy Ministry announced a three-tier subsidized diesel pricing system on September 18, 2026: 115 Syrian pounds ($0.94) per liter for heating, agriculture and other eligible consumers; 150 pounds ($1.23) per liter for productive and service sectors; and a standard grade held at 175 pounds ($1.43) per liter — kept below the actual cost of 206 pounds ($1.69) per liter. Petrol and cooking-gas prices were left unchanged. The decision came a day after President Ahmad al-Sharaa met energy officials to address the crisis; Energy Minister Mohammed al-Bashir said the subsidy program 'was secured in cooperation with friendly countries' and that the ministry would restart small-scale refineries with a combined capacity of up to 35,000 barrels per day to ease supply. Protests over the initial 25-40 percent hikes had spread by this point to Damascus, Deir ez-Zor and Hasakah, on top of the earlier demonstrations in Aleppo, Idlib, Hama, Daraa and the M4 highway blockade near Tal Tamr. No casualties or arrests were reported in connection with the protests.