By Hani Hazaimeh

AMMAN - The government on Thursday issued a decision lowering prices of fuel derivatives by 12.8 per cent for gasoline 90, 13.3 per cent for gasoline 95 and 13.2 per cent for diesel and kerosene.

The price of cooking gas remained unchanged at JD6.5 per cylinder, a senior official announced.

According to the new list, which replaced the October 19 update, gasoline 90 and 95 are now sold for 475 fils and 550 fils, down from JD0.545 and JD0.635 a litre respectively, while each litre of kerosene and diesel is now sold at JD0.490, down from JD0.565.

Earlier in the month, the government announced it would modify the frequency of fuel pricing updates to be issued every fortnight, with a view to shorten it to a week. Since February, the changes were made on a monthly basis.

The latest decision prompted gas station owners to hold their fuel orders from the Jordan Petroleum Refinery Company (JPRC) until after it took effect in order to avoid losses, causing a shortage and long lines of vehicles waiting at the stations for refills.

But unlike the case in the days that preceded the previous update, gas stations have this time continued to provide consumers with fuel products without delay, a positive sign as described by President of the Gas Station Owners Association Fahed Fayez.

"During the past three days preceding this update, sales of fuel at gas stations dropped by around 80 per cent and orders from the refinery ranged between 3,650-4,200 tonnes," Fayez told The Jordan Times on Thursday.

Expecting the demand on fuel derivatives to amount to 15,000 tonnes on Friday, Fayez said he was informed by JPRC’s CEO Ahmad Rifai that the company would be working on the weekend to meet the rising demand.