Oman's Shura Council votes on fuel price

MUSCAT: Shura Council members have voted to fix fuel at set prices until the government provides a long term solution to protect those struggling to afford it.
Fuel prices in Oman had hit an all-time high when the Ministry of Oil and Gas announced the February fuel prices where M95 went up to 196 baizas per litre followed by M91 with 186 baizas per litre and diesel with 205 baizas per litre, for the first time.
The public showed signs of discontent to announcement which prompted the Shura Council to hold a series of discussions regarding the matter.
Although the Council of Ministers decided to fix the M91 price, a common fuel grade for many in the Sultanate, until further notice, the Shura Council held two meetings to discuss the recent hike where the Special Committee set a list of recommendations.
46 members voted for the first recommendation which states that all fuel prices must be fixed. The Special Committee recommended that M95 be fixed at 160 baizas per litre while M91 at 150 baizas and diesel at 180 baizas per litre.
The committee then proposed a second recommendation which states that the government should support other classes of Omanis if the oil price exceeds $70 per barrel; either by fixing the fuel price at 160 baizas per litre or supporting these people according to mechanisms provided by the responsible authorities – 34 members voted for this recommendation.
93 per cent of the Shura were in favour of the special committee’s third recommendation which states that all free refuelling cards be stripped from top government officials.
The fourth recommendation stresses the necessity for those responsible in the government to provide a clear mechanism in determining the fuel prices as well as revealing the profit made from fuel products to which 95 per cent of Shura members agree on.
74 per cent voted in favour of the fifth and final recommendation where the committee in charge of determining fuel prices submits the proposed fuel prices to the Shura Council before approving it including any procedure they undertake regarding that matter.