THE ASAHI SHIMBUN
January 30, 2022 at 18:19 JST
A gas station pump in Tokyo’s Chuo Ward (Asahi Shimbun file photo)
TOMAKOMAI, Hokkaido--Industry minister floated the idea of taking “additional steps” to help rein in the soaring price of gasoline if government subsidies available to distributors fail to stem the rise.
“The government will consider adding more subsidies or supporting the public’s daily lives in a different manner,” Koichi Hagiuda told reporters during a visit to this far northern city on Jan. 29.
The government provides subsidies to distributors up to 5 yen per liter to keep the national average of regular gasoline retail prices within 170 yen ($1.48) per liter.
The subsidy program kicked in as the national average hit the threshold on Jan. 26 for the first time in 13 years.
If crude oil prices continue to climb, experts fear the offer of 5 yen will not be sufficient to protect the public from the impact of the surge.
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