Syria begins Homs fuel deliveries to al-Hasakah to support harvest

The Syrian government has started supplying fuel stations in al-Hasakah governorate with diesel and other fuels sourced from the Homs refinery under a joint plan with the Directorate of Agriculture, aimed at easing shortages during the peak grain harvest. Deputy Governor Ahmed al-Hilali, who is the spokesperson for the presidential team implementing the January 29 agreement with the SDF, said the Syrian Petroleum Company coordinated the deliveries to secure agricultural needs and keep harvest operations running. Enab Baladi reported that one million liters of subsidized diesel arrived through cooperation between the presidential team and the petroleum company; some stations in al-Hasakah and Qamishli have begun selling premium Syrian diesel from Homs at about $0.88 per liter while others continue to offer cheaper local free-market diesel (~$0.55), prompting drivers and farmers to shop for the lower-priced fuel.

The deliveries come amid a recent wave of protests across rural al-Hasakah over deteriorating services and rising living costs. Protesters in areas including al-Hol, al-Shaddadi, Tell Brak, Ghazila and Umm Hujaira demanded better water, electricity, fuel supplies and jobs; al-Hilali acknowledged the protesters' demands as "rightful" and said the issues were being relayed to national leadership and ministries. Local fuel-market pressure is mounting as agricultural and transport consumption rises during harvest season, affecting transport fares and the ability of farmers to operate harvesters and move crops, a key concern for one of Syria's main wheat- and barley-producing governorates as reported by Enab Baladi