Jordan is a member of the Arab League, but is not an oil producing nation. Jordan might be expected to exert influence in the Arab League to change the gas prices policy in its favor if it finds it is having domestic problems as a result of the low gas prices, but has no direct say in establishing policy for oil producing nations. What does that have to do with Israel or the US? It’s all connected…AMMAN - The Gas Station Owners Association (GSOA) said scores of its members are threatening to take escalatory measures if the government fails to meet their demands to address their losses, the president of the association, Fahed Fayez, told The Jordan Times on Thursday.

The message was conveyed to the government during a meeting, earlier in the day, comprising six board members from the association and Secretary General of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources Farouq Hiyari.

“The government pledged to provide the association with a written proposal with suggestions to address the demands of association members by Sunday or Monday,” Fayez said.

These demands include neutralising the fluctuation in fuel prices and its impact on gas stations, in addition to raising their gross profit commission, which currently stands at 1.35 per cent, according to Fayez.

“The government�s proposal will be discussed by GSOA�s general assembly, which will forward its feedback with a final settlement expected to be reached before the next update on fuel prices, expected to take place between January 12 and 14,” Fayez added.

Meanwhile, the GSOA president said the association received letters from owners of 84 gas stations expressing their frustration over the outcome of talks with the government. They warned they would halt orders of fuel derivatives from the Jordan Petroleum Refinery Company if the problem is not solved before the upcoming update.

Fayez told The Jordan Times in a previous statement that the syndicate members incurred huge losses estimated at JD8-12 million because of the continued decline in fuel prices since early September.

He said each gas station loses no less than JD3,000-4,000 every time prices go down.

Last Saturday, the government updated fuel prices, reducing them for the eighth time in a row since August.

Like the previous one, the update will be effective for one month, according to the government.

Hiyari was not available for comment and the ministry�s spokesperson, Mahmoud Eiss, said he had no information about the meeting.