Fuel Prices up in Turkmenistan

In Turkmenistan, prices for gasoline have been on the rise since February. The rumor of the coming rise in price spread with lightning speed, and on January 31, car owners across the country rushed to gas stations. In Turkmenabad and Farab, gas stations saw up to 200 cars queuing simultaneously, with citizens demanding that their cars and gas cans be filled. As a result, gas stations were shut until the following day, the day on which the prices began to increase.

Today, a liter of fuel 95 costs 1.5 Manat ($0.88) up from 1 Manat on January 31, and a liter of fuel 92 costs 1.35 Manat ($0.79: before 0.94 Manat). The media in Turkmenistan have remained silent on the price hike.

In 2008, the country's leadership decided to free-fuel the owners of cars to the amount of 120 liters per month (motorcycles - 40 liters). In April 2014, in connection with the beginning of the financial crisis, this method was ceased. In 2016, the cost increased by 60%. In early May of last year, rumors of a future increase in gasoline prices provoked a rush at the capital city’s gas stations, though prices remained at the same level until this February.

By Dimitri Dolaberidze