3 days ago
Why pay for fuel if the state doesn't get the money?
BY Libyan Express Aug 15, 2025 - 13:01 Updated: Aug 15, 2025 - 13:02 Economist warns of fuel price hike: 'If they took 15 qirsh, what about five dinars?' Photo Credit: Ean Libya
Libyan economist Mokhtar Al-Jadeed has raised sharp criticism over the country's subsidised fuel pricing, questioning why citizens continue to pay 0.15 dinar (~$0.03) per litre when, he alleges, the revenue does not reach the state treasury.
In a statement posted to his official Facebook page, Al-Jadeed argued that if the money is not entering public coffers, it should remain with the people. 'The fuel should be free — fill up and go,' he said.
Addressing proposals to remove fuel subsidies, he warned: 'If they were tempted to take even the 15 qirsh, what will happen when the price of a litre of gasoline reaches five dinars (~$1)?'
His remarks come amid ongoing national debate over the future of Libya's fuel subsidy programme — a politically sensitive issue in a country where cheap fuel is one of the few direct benefits provided by the state, but also a driver of widespread smuggling and corruption. The views expressed in Op-Ed pieces are those of the author and do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of Libyan Express.
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