Saudi Arabia Hikes Gasoline Prices

Saudi Arabia was set to raise local gasoline prices on Monday, state news agency SPA reported. The initiative, aimed at more efficient energy use, coincides with an ambitious reform plan to boost sources of revenue and wean the world’s top crude exporter away from oil, Reuters reported. It said Octane 91 will sell for 1.37 riyals ($0.36) a liter, up from 0.75 riyals ($0.20), while Octane 95 will sell for 2.04 riyals ($0.54) a liter, up from 0.90 riyals ($0.24). Diesel rates for trucks were left unchanged. The kingdom will slow plans to eliminate subsidies for a wide range of energy products, according to a new long-term fiscal plan in the 2018 state budget released last month. King Salman formally announced on Dec. 20 that the target date for eliminating the government’s budget deficit would be pushed back to 2023 from the original target of 2020, in order to reduce pressure on economic growth. Facing a budget deficit of $52 billion, Saudi Arabia arrested tens of princes, former officials and businessmen, and offered freedom in exchange for 70% of their wealth to buttress the depleted state coffers.