Fuel crisis deepens in Kurdistan Region as stations close and queues grow

ERBIL, Iraq — A fuel shortage has hit the Kurdistan Region in recent days, with many private gasoline stations shutting down and long vehicle queues forming at those still operating. Field reporting indicates that some stations have closed entirely, while others have posted "no gasoline" on their digital signs, saying they cannot absorb rising import and transportation costs under the new pricing scheme. Drivers in Sulaymaniyah and Erbil said they have waited in line for hours, paying around 850 dinars per liter for commercial gasoline. Taxi passengers reported that fares have risen by at least 1,000 dinars because of the crisis, adding pressure on lower-income residents. Erbil Governor Omed Khoshnaw said at a press conference on Tuesday that roughly 280 stations in the city have complied with the new tariff and that state-subsidized gasoline continues to be distributed at 750 dinars per liter. Kamal Salih Mohammed, the Kurdistan Region's Minister of Natural Resources, warned that legal action will be taken against operators who refuse to follow the new pricing framework. No further details on the legal measures were immediately available.