STILL NO FUEL PRICE DROP

Although the oil companies purchased oil at a lower pri ce recently, there still has not been a fuel price drop at the local gas stations. 7he local gas stations are still sticking to the old prices that were calculated according to last month’s shipments that were expensive.

/ast month the price of 1 barrel of crude oil fluctuated between $7 . and $ 77. on the international market. On -uly 1 the price of 1 barrel of crude oil peaked at $ 7 . before dropping and fluctuating between $71 and $7 .

Mark *oede, director at SO/ Suriname N9, ex plained that when the oil pri ces drop on the international market, the effects are not immediately noticeable the following day at the gas sta tions in our country.

+e also explained that the oil companies usually still have fuel in stock from the previous shipment when a new shipment arrives. 7he new supply is sold after the old supply is depleted. According to *oede, the Ministry of 7rade, ,ndustry and 7ourism still has not indicated if the new price should be higher or lower or if the current prices must be adjusted. “7hat is why the old prices are still being used.´ 7he director pointed out that it is possible that the government does not want to lower the price of fuel be cause of the discount of 17 cents of fuel on the fuel tax or government take on each liter which the government gave for two whole months. “,t is possible that the go vernment wants to earn it back. Maybe that’s not it at all. 7he ministry and there fore the government has the final say so they should be the ones to give the ans wers.´ 7rade, ,ndustry and 7ourism Minister Stephan 7sang could not be reached for comment.