Duhok Governorate witnessed long queues in front of gas stations today, Sunday, with the number of cars at one station exceeding 800, as drivers waited for hours to obtain subsidized gasoline.
Several drivers, in a press interview reviewed by the "News Video Agency," stated that they had begun lining up since yesterday to get fuel, while the distribution process at several stations did not start until noon, causing hundreds of cars to remain in the queues for long periods.
The drivers pointed out that the long waiting period led some of them to stay in their places for hours, while others had to lay out blankets to sleep by the roadside, due to the ongoing queues and the unclear timing for the start of fuel distribution.
Driver Saleh Muhammad explained that he arrived at the queue since last night and left his car for a short time before returning early this morning to follow up on his turn, noting that the fuel distribution did not start until noon.
Muhammad added that the waiting has become exhausting for drivers, indicating that the waiting time varies from time to time and can reach five or six or seven hours, and sometimes it is less than that.
He also continued, stating that the subsidized gasoline is of better quality compared to commercial gasoline, clarifying that using commercial fuel caused malfunctions in his car on two occasions.
For his part, driver Karzan Khurshid stated that the rise in commercial gasoline prices has made obtaining subsidized fuel a necessity for many drivers, especially with the increasing cost of living.
According to Khurshid, drivers are forced to wait long periods in front of gas stations to get their share of subsidized gasoline, affirming that the quality of this fuel is better than commercial fuel, according to his experience.
According to the drivers, the rise in commercial gasoline prices has made subsidized fuel the more suitable option for them, especially with its lower price and quality, as they say.
This crisis comes as the new school year approaches, amid expectations of increased demand for fuel due to the rise in the movement of cars, buses, and transportation means for students in schools, universities, and kindergartens.
The capital Baghdad and most Iraqi provinces have been experiencing a gasoline supply crisis for weeks, following a temporary relief seen in the markets last month, amid the ongoing fuel scarcity affecting several areas in the country.
Earlier this month, Oil Minister Basem Mohammed Al-Abadi confirmed that efforts were underway to address the shortage of gasoline, noting that shipments of gasoline would soon arrive in Iraq.