Iraq Gasoline Shortage Worsens Amid Regional War Disruptions

A severe gasoline shortage has spread across Iraq, forcing motorists into long queues as technical problems at refineries, delayed imports, and regional war disruptions strain supplies.

The shortage has affected Kirkuk, Baghdad, and several central and southern Iraqi provinces. Regular gasoline supplies have tightened, while government-subsidized stations have struggled to provide motorists with their allocated 50 liters every five days.

Improved-grade gasoline has also been largely unavailable in Kirkuk and many other Iraqi cities for almost a week due to technical problems at refineries supplying the grade.

The Oil Ministry says average nationwide gasoline demand is about 33 million liters per day, but consumption can rise to around 38 million liters when fears of shortages prompt motorists to buy more fuel than usual.