The city of Hakkari has the most expensive gas pump prices, while Istanbul, Kocaeli and Tekirdag see the cheapest prices in the country, according to Turkey's Energy Watchdog ceiling price list for gasoline and diesel oil.
Turkey's Energy Market Regulatory Authority, EMRA, implemented a price ceiling on the country's gasoline prices on Monday and for diesel oil prices on Tuesday.
According to the price ceiling list, the gasoline price per liter in Hakkari is 4.63 liras, however in Istanbul, Kocaeli and Tekirdag the price drops by 0.18 liras to 4.45 liras.
Other cities who experience the most expensive buying prices for gasoline and diesel in Turkey after Hakkari are Tunceli, Elazıg, Mus and Bingol.
The cheapest gasoline is sold at 4.45 liras and diesel is sold at 3.83 liras in Istanbul, Kocaeli and Tekirdag.
In Hakkari 208 liras will fill a 45 liter gasoline tank, but in Istanbul, a 45 liter tank costs 8 lira less at 200 liras.
There are four oil refineries in Turkey's cities in Izmit, Izmir, Kirikkale and Batman, and fuel oil distribution companies deliver gasoline and diesel oil from one of these refineries.
"One of the reasons for the price gap between these cities is the long distance from refineries to the city destinations," industry experts say.
EMRA, Turkey's energy watchdog, took a decision in late February to regulate gasoline and diesel pricing with the introduction of ceiling prices. The decision gives the watchdog the authority to implement a price ceiling when profit margins exceed the set ceiling margins. Although there is a free market for fuel in Turkey, EMRA steps in by implementing ceiling prices for a two month period only when the profit margins exceeds the set limits.
The price of diesel oil may reach a maximum of 3.89 liras in the Turkish capital Ankara, and 3.83 liras per liter in Istanbul and Izmir. With the new price ceiling, diesel fuels costs will increase by an average of 0.05 liras per liter as of Wednesday, according to a statement by EMRA.
From Tuesday, an average 0.12 lira increase was put on the price of 95-octane unleaded gasoline. The price may reach a maximum of 4.45 liras per liter in İstanbul, 4.48 liras in the Turkish capital Ankara and 4.47 liras in İzmir.
By Huseyin Erdogan
Anadolu Agency
huseyin.erdogan@aa.com.tr
