Mosul: Ninewa MP Shirwan al-Dubardani has voiced strong criticism over the ongoing gasoline crisis affecting the province, questioning the effectiveness of regulatory and security agencies in managing and monitoring fuel distribution to curb smuggling and quota exploitation.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, al-Dubardani expressed his concerns in a press statement, emphasizing that Ninewa has a comprehensive governmental and security infrastructure. He queried the absence of effective oversight and the functionality of cameras meant for recording vehicle movements at checkpoints, which should ideally prevent gasoline smuggling.

Al-Dubardani urged authorities to review checkpoint camera footage and closely monitor vehicle movements to pinpoint the crisis’s root causes, rather than attributing the issue to parliamentary actions. He stressed that the province’s executive and regulatory bodies are tasked with resolving the matter.

Highlighting the pressure on Ninewa’s gas stations, al-Dubardani mentioned that about 36,000 vehicles have entered the province. He speculated that the fuel crisis in the Kurdistan Region and the discrepancy in fuel prices could be contributing to this strain. He noted that a vehicle in the region is valued at approximately 20 million dinars.

The MP’s statements come amid reports of long queues and congestion at Mosul’s gas stations, despite assurances from station owners about gasoline availability. In response, the Nineveh Oil Products Authority has implemented measures to streamline fuel distribution, such as limiting fuel provision to the vehicle owner and their card only, and suspending mismatched cards for a minimum of six months.