Figures released by the Ministry of Energy & Hydraulic Resources show that the 2000 aggregate bill for petroleum products increased by 40.39 percent to $1.136 billion compared to an increase of 29.67 percent in 1999, while quantities imported decreased by 10.42 percent to 4.471 million tons compared to a rise of 5.3 percent for 1999.
The difference in the change in rates between the two categories is attributed to the rise in world oil prices that reached record levels last year.
The bill for gasoline rose 49.79 percent to $402.59 million, while the quantity imported dropped 6 percent to 1.26 million tons.
Fuel oil bill rose 39.08 percent to $270.15 million due to a rise in imports on behalf of Electricitי du Liban by 6.33 percent to 1.29 million tons.
The bills for diesel and liquid gas rose by 27.7 percent and 69.7 percent to $350.88 million and $58.88 million respectively.
— (Lebanon Invest)
© 2001 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
