JUST a week after they went up by 20 cents, fuel prices on Saipan and Tinian were rolled back following President Joe Biden’s announcement that the U.S. would release oil reserves to try to bring down gasoline prices that have soared following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Mobil Oil Marianas and Shell Marianas on Saipan reduced their fuel prices on Friday and Saturday respectively by 15 cents.
The regular gas price went down to $5.86 a gallon from $6.01 a gallon; premium gas price to $6.31 a gallon from $6.46 a gallon; and diesel price to $6.48 a gallon from $6.63 a gallon.
On Tinian, Mobil Oil also reduced its prices by 15 cents. The regular gas price there is now $7.59 a gallon and the diesel price is $8.09 a gallon.
Mobil Oil in Sasanhaya, Rota had yet to reduce its price. The regular gas price was still $7.49 a gallon and the diesel price, $10.17 a gallon as a result of the last price increase on March 25.
Despite the roll back, fuel prices are still too high for many residents, especially for those who have lost their jobs due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Shopun Mojunder, a gasoline station attendant, told Variety.
He said a customer could only afford to purchase $2 worth of gas.
Mojunder said he felt sad for the customer so he put $5 worth of gas into the car tank and paid $3 out of his own pocket. “I just wanted to help him,” he said adding that he understands that life is “really getting harder these days.”
In his case, he said he drives his car every day from Kagman to his work in San Jose, adding that $20 worth of gas is no longer enough for a week.
According to Reuters, oil prices “plunged about 5% on the news of the latest U.S. reserve draws while OPEC+, a production group including Saudi Arabia and Russia, stuck to a modest deal to slowly ramp up output.”
The Mobil Oil in Chalan Kiya displays its new prices on Friday.
