According to a statement issued by the Erbil governor's office, 50 gas stations have been punished in the past nine days. Legal action was taken against 42 gas stations in May.

"We assure the citizens of our city that the inspection teams and committees monitoring gas stations would continue to take necessary legal action against gas station owners selling bad gasoline to citizens and modify the quality of gasoline," the governor's office said. 

He called on citizens to inform the Erbil Governor's Office as soon as possible if they come across any violations in gas stations, whether it is the sale of lousy gasoline or quality change.

"We would like to inform gas stations owners that we will publish the names and locations of the punished gas stations," the statement said.

Since 2020, energy prices have increased to record high levels. In 2020, the cost of Muhasan or midgrade gasoline, a gasoline with a 95 percent octane rate, doubled in two years. In 2020 it was sold at 600 Iraqi dinars per liter but is now sold at 1200 Iraqi dinars per liter.