January 29, 2026
Rene Abi Nader – Mtv
The Lebanese have lived through the worst crises since 2019. Who among you can forget the nightmare scenes of queues at gas stations, which were “nerve-burning”? Some people imagine that it is impossible to live again these days, but we are in Lebanon, a land of wonders. Gas station owners have raised their voices over the past few days, demanding their rights, and threatening escalatory steps if their demands are not met.
The head of the Syndicate of Station Owners, Georges Al-Barakas, explains, “The commission (the royalty) on a diesel tank is determined by the Ministry of Energy and Water, and is fixed at 20 liters. As for the commission on gasoline, it is $1.26 for every 20 liters, which is about 113 thousand Lebanese pounds, while the commission on diesel is 70 cents, which is about 72 thousand Lebanese pounds.”
He pointed out, in an interview with the MTV website, that “this reward has been the same since 2019, that is, since the beginning of the crisis, and therefore, it has not changed,” pointing out that “the Station Owners Syndicate has communicated a lot with the Ministry of Energy regarding this issue and submitted a letter stating that this reward is not suitable for these days.”
Al-Barakas says: “We called for amending the royalty and unifying it between gasoline and diesel,” warning of “negative situations” if it is not amended.
What is meant by “negative attitudes”? Al-Barakas points out that “refraining from amending the commission will lead to the cessation of work at the stations, which means the return of queues.”
He added: “We held a meeting at the Ministry of Energy and Water and presented studies on the minimum wage and the cost of living, and we agreed with the ministry to amend the royalty, during the first week of February at the latest. Therefore, we stopped the escalatory steps while waiting for this date, to build on what is required, and then take the necessary positions.” He continues: “But it seems that the ministry will implement its promise.”
Does adjusting the royalty affect the price of gasoline? Al-Barakas answers: “How can the station owner pay everything he owes with only 113,000 liras per tin, especially since since November, the price of gasoline has decreased by about 900,000 Lebanese liras?”
Al-Barakas concludes, saying: “The state is eating its people, and what we are demanding is an acquired right, especially since the owners of the stations are also citizens.”
