Diesel prices go up 20fils/litre from Jan 1st

MANAMA: With assurance that the Government was considering to withdraw the subsidies on the basic commodities, the process of diesel will go up 20 fils per litre effective January 1st 2014.

During the post cabinet meeting briefing, Minister for State for Information Affairs Sameera Rajab said that there have had no discussions on withdrawing the subsidies adding such reports were baseless and unfounded.

Explaining the rationale behind diesel, the Government’s official spokesperson, said that it would help to discourage the possibilities of smuggling the diesel to neighbouring countries where diesel prices were higher than Bahrain.

“Diesel price in Bahrain is comparatively the lowest in the region. This has led to the smuggling of diesel to other parts of the region. The price rise is an instrument to deter smuggling,” she said.

She also assured that such move would not affect fishermen as there would be no change for diesel prices for this very segment of the society.

The Spokesperson said that the National Dialogue was the only forum accepted by the Government for negotiations with the members of the opposition, as she dismissed reports about extra-dialogue negotiations as “far from true.”

“The National Dialogue remains the only accepted negotiation forum between all concerned parties,” she insisted.