Türkiye Hikes Fuel Tax by 6%, Aims to Control Inflation

A girl sells flowers to passersby on the Karakoy sea promenade in Istanbul, Türkiye, Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
A girl sells flowers to passersby on the Karakoy sea promenade in Istanbul, Türkiye, Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
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Türkiye Hikes Fuel Tax by 6%, Aims to Control Inflation

A girl sells flowers to passersby on the Karakoy sea promenade in Istanbul, Türkiye, Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
A girl sells flowers to passersby on the Karakoy sea promenade in Istanbul, Türkiye, Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

Türkiye imposed a 6% tax hike on fuel on Tuesday, after its finance minister said over the weekend that tax moves on fuel and tobacco would not affect the government's inflation goal.

The special consumption tax per liter for fuel has been increased by around 6%, according to a presidential decree in the Official Gazette, which publishes new legislation and official announcements.

The special consumption tax on fuel is adjusted every six months based on the producer price index. With the 5-month cumulative PPI since the last increase standing at 7.12%, the latest tax hike is below the index.

Authorities will announce an update on the PPI on Jan. 3, when it is widely expected to increase, Reuters reported.

Fuel taxes typically have a major impact on inflation.
But Finance Minister Mehmet Simsek said on Sunday that tax hikes for fuel and tobacco in the New Year will be set in a way that does not affect the country's 2025 inflation outlook.
Turkish annual inflation stood at 47.1% in November, higher than expected but at its lowest level since mid-2023. A Reuters poll forecast that it will ease to 26.5% by end-2025, but higher than a central bank prediction of 21%.



Emir of Qatar: Inauguration of Two Solar Projects Part of Transition to Renewable Energy

Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani at the inauguration of two strategic solar power projects in Ras Laffan and Mesaieed. (X)
Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani at the inauguration of two strategic solar power projects in Ras Laffan and Mesaieed. (X)
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Emir of Qatar: Inauguration of Two Solar Projects Part of Transition to Renewable Energy

Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani at the inauguration of two strategic solar power projects in Ras Laffan and Mesaieed. (X)
Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani at the inauguration of two strategic solar power projects in Ras Laffan and Mesaieed. (X)

Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani inaugurated on Monday two strategic solar power projects in Ras Laffan and Mesaieed with a combined capacity of 875 megawatts (MW).

The projects will more than double Qatar’s solar energy production to 1,675MW of renewable energy.

“The inauguration of two strategic solar power projects in Ras Laffan and Mesaieed comes within the framework of the country's plans to transition to renewable energy, diversify energy sources, and support strategic development projects,” the Emir said.

In a post on his official account on X, Sheikh Tamim wrote, “As part of plans to transition to renewable energy, the Emir inaugurated today two strategic solar power projects in Ras Laffan and Mesaieed,” according to state-run Qatari news agency, QNA.

These plants are also intended to leverage the potential of low-carbon energy in sustainability plans and efforts to mitigate environmental impacts, he added.

Minister of State for Energy Affairs Saad bin Sherida Al Kaabi said the two plants are a fundamental step towards achieving the fourth pillar of the Qatar National Vision 2030, which is environmental management to ensure harmony and consistency between economic and social development and environmental protection.

“It also achieves one of the goals of Qatar's energy sustainability strategy, which is to generate more than 4,000 megawatts of renewable energy by 2030,” said Al Kaabi, who is also President and CEO of QatarEnergy.

These plants are expected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by about 4.7 million tons annually.

The two stations, he said, along with the Al-Kharsaah plant, will play a significant role in meeting the country's electricity demand, contributing about 15% of the total peak electricity demand.