Tunisia increases fuel price by 4 pct, Govt efforts to rein in budget deficit

The government of Tunisia has decided to increase the price of fuel by about 4 percent in an effort to rein in its budget deficit. The government also want to meet reforms requested by international lenders.

According to the statement released by the government of Tunisia, sulfur-free diesel was augmented from 0.080 to 1.825 Tunisian dinars, gasoline from 0.080 to 2.065 Tunisian dinars and diesel from 0.090 to 1.825 Tunisian dinars. The increase in price was introduced in light of the rise in global prices after the price of crude oil reached USD 68 a barrel, the ministry clarified, as reported by Asharq Al-awsat.

Tunisia increased the price of petrol four times in 2018 and the latest was in September. Tunis is in the implementation process of multiple measures and strategies and the experts call it pressure from the international lenders, one of which is the International Monetary Fund.

However, the increase in fuel price is highly being opposed by the Tunisian Confederation of Industry, Trade and Handicrafts. Samir Majoul, Head of the Confederation said that the measures would have many repercussions on the Tunisian economy.

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