Turkmenistan's President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov has ordered the scrapping of free monthly gasoline handouts to car owners as of July 1.
Since 2008, each private car owner in Turkmenistan has been entitled to a monthly quota of 120 liters of free gasoline.
Berdymukhamedov's decree was published by state media on April 29.
It says the abolition of free gasoline handouts aims "to help sustain the growth of the national economy, achieve the efficient use of oil products, and ensure their orderly converting to cash on the domestic market."
Turkmenistan's population of 5.5 million uses natural gas, water, and electricity free of charge.
Turkmenistan, which is viewed by human rights organizations as one of the most reclusive and repressive states in the world, boasts the world's fourth-largest reserves of natural gas.
Since 2008, each private car owner in Turkmenistan has been entitled to a monthly quota of 120 liters of free gasoline.
Berdymukhamedov's decree was published by state media on April 29.
It says the abolition of free gasoline handouts aims "to help sustain the growth of the national economy, achieve the efficient use of oil products, and ensure their orderly converting to cash on the domestic market."
Turkmenistan's population of 5.5 million uses natural gas, water, and electricity free of charge.
Turkmenistan, which is viewed by human rights organizations as one of the most reclusive and repressive states in the world, boasts the world's fourth-largest reserves of natural gas.
