Eliminating fossil fuel subsidies
Increased fiscal pressures and net-zero carbon pledges should pave the way to permanently phase out subsidies
Subsidies are intended to stimulate production and demand for fossil fuels. But in times of deficit, when budgets can hardly accommodate essential health expenditure, it is difficult to justify their use. And fossil fuel markets demonstrate they can survive on their own. Why, indeed, would society want to direct scarce resources towards fossil fuel subsidies? Mainly because industry lobbyists and consumer advocates are working hard to convince lawmakers to do so. It is imperative that society understands their detrimental effect on both markets and the economy, and importantly how much subsidies actually cost. When prices were low and fuel subsidies for consumers could not be justified, most

Also in this section
29 July 2025
The EU’s Russia sanctions could have far-reaching implications for India’s Vadinar-based refinery
29 July 2025
There is a good strategic case for China to sign a deal for gas supplies via the proposed Power of Siberia 2 pipeline, but Beijing’s concerns over over-dependency on a single supplier and desire to drive down the price make it relatively unlikely that a contract will be finalised this year.
29 July 2025
EU industry and politicians are pushing back against the bloc’s green agenda. Meanwhile, Brussels’ transatlantic trade deal with Washington could consolidate US energy dominance.
25 July 2025
KRG, Iraq’s central government and Turkey are all working to get exports flowing from the key port, but complications remain