Ministers and public officials not exempted from price hike

Dubai - The Minister of Energy was interacting with the public on Twitter soon after the ministry announced the new fuel prices on Tuesday.

Dubai: The Minister of Energy, Suhail bin Mohammed Faraj Al Mazroui, has said that no fuel subsidy is being granted to any minister or any other government employee.

The minister said this in response to a question on whether "the fuel for his vehicle was paid by him or the government".

He was interacting with the public on Twitter soon after the ministry announced the new fuel prices on Tuesday.

The session that went on for over an hour @HESuhail said the cost of consumer goods should come down based on the price ?of diesel.

"Since transport expenses depend on diesel, they (cost of consumer goods) should be reduced as the price of diesel has dropped. We welcome all inquiries and comments on the new resolution as well as the initiatives of the ministry via the ministry account as well as the personal account," he said.

When asked whether the price of electricity is expected to go down since the price of diesel is reduced, Al Mazroui said, "Electricity generation in the country depends on natural gas for some summer days."

Al Mazroui also said that reduction of petrol or diesel prices will not affect aviation fuel.

Asked what action the government will be taking against the companies misusing the liberalisation of the prices, Al Mazroui said, "We are coordinating with all bodies concerned in monitoring prices to prevent manipulation by unscrupulous agents."

He also urged the public to wait before judging the new resolution and provide an opportunity to stakeholders to protect the consumers and regulate oil prices.

asmaalizain@khaleejtimes.com

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