Starting from Monday, fuel subsidy cards will come into effect across Oman. It will enable card-holders to avail of 200 litres of M91 fuel every month at 180 baisa per litre. So far, 161,255 citizens have registered on the National Subsidy System (NSS) portal. The expected number of beneficiaries is 376,000. According to the criteria set by the government, the eligible citizens should be above 18 years of age, own a vehicle/ boat (for fishermen) and their monthly income should not exceed RO 600. It includes students, housewives, retirees, job-seekers and farmers.
The initiative is aimed at mitigating the consequences of the hike in fuel prices on low-income families. The National Subsidy System is applicable to citizens who are above 18 years of age, own a vehicle or a boat and earn an income not exceeding RO 600. The subsidy is only for Mogas 91 (M91). The number of citizens registering for the national subsidy system (NSS) is expected to increase following the announcement of fuel prices for January which saw the price of M91 jumping from 186 bz to 199 bz. Of the people who registered for NSS, employees make up 61 per cent, job- seekers 14 per cent, retirees 13 per cent, housewives 5 per cent, students 4 per cent and self-employed 3 per cent. Males account for 87 per cent of the total number of those registered.
The majority of citizens eligible for NSS (51 per cent ) hold the card of Oman Oil Marketing Company, 32 per cent hold Shell card and 17 per cent Al Maha card. . Those who meet requirements to get subsidy may register at www.nss.gov.om. They are required to fill the form and then receive the fuel subsidy card from their preferred petrol station. Then have to activate the card by following clear steps. To ensure proper registration, a call centre (24174000) is operational from 8 am to 5 pm round the week on the national fuel subsidy system.
Zainab al Nassri
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