Mosul council warns fuel stations of penalties amid long queues

MOSUL, Iraq — The head of the Energy and Oil Committee in the Nineveh provincial council, Ahmed Abd Rabbo, has warned fuel station operators in Mosul that managers who fail to do their jobs will face heavy fines and administrative penalties at both private and state-run stations. Abd Rabbo said the committee will coordinate with fuel distribution companies and inspection teams to carry out surprise checks at the stations. The warning came after footage of long vehicle queues stretching several meters in front of Mosul's fuel stations circulated on social media. Abd Rabbo said private stations found to have deliberately shut off their fuel pumps will be fined immediately, while state-run stations whose desk officers neglect their duties will face administrative action. He also said barcode-reading staff stationed inside station booths must instead work alongside drivers in the field. Where state-run stations are short-staffed, the station's cashier will be required to step in and operate the pumps, he added. The committee did not specify when the inspections would begin or how many stations had been affected by the queues.