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Price of Gas Rises Due to Middle Eastern Conflicts

Gas prices are rising at all stations and the Sunco in Westport is no exception. | Photo by Eric Essagof '12

In the past two months, the Town of Westport, along with the rest of the nation, has seen the prices at gas stations rise to unsettling numbers.

According to the website connecticutgasprices.com, Mobil is selling the most expensive gas at $4.37 per gallon. The lowest reported price for regular gas in Westport is from Gulf at $3.69 per gallon, which is lower than the current statewide average of $3.73 per gallon.

When trying to understand the problem, most experts point to the continuing unrest in the Middle East, starting with the protests in Tunisia and Egypt. Speculation that these troubled Governments might lose control over their oil reserves has been the main factor that has increased the price of oil. Most recently, an international coalition took military action against Libya, a country with large amounts of oil. The Libyan leader, Muammar Gaddafi, has also reportedly ordered his military to blow up all Libyan oil pipelines. This would cut off the oil supply to all countries in the Mediterranean region.

“We will not leave our oil to America or France or Britain or the enemy Christian states that are aligned now against us,” Gaddafi said.

Other fears are that rebel groups could damage facilities in Libya incidentally, or that Libyan exports could be offline for a significant amount of time.

Even though the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has promised to replace any possible oil shortage, fears among investors have not been quelled.

According to the Department of Energy 23 percent of America’s oil comes from the Middle East. However, the loss of oil in this area of the world would affect the price globally, as other countries would have to make up for the shortfall.

These high oil prices have had a significant impact on the ways Americans live their lives and spend their money. According to a survey conducted by America’s Research Group, Americans are shopping less due to high gas prices. With the economic recovery just starting to gain traction, many experts are saying that this could not have come at a worse time.

Even with this spike in gas prices, most Staples students seem to have been unaffected.

Taylor Boone ’11 has given some thought to the situation but does not believe it has affected her driving habits since she, like many other students, does not pay for her own gas.

“I just complain more about gas prices, but I like to think I drive less,” Boone said.”

Steve Thomson ’12 is another Staples driver who has been left unscathed by the high price of oil.

“My parents pay for gas, because I drive places where they would drive me anyways,” Thomson said.

Even those who do not pay for their own gas do not seem to be concerned about the higher prices.

“Honestly, I didn’t completely notice the gas prices going up until recently, and I still have to get where I’m going,” Eliza Duvall ’12, who pays for her own gas, said. “I think it is too much of a worry to drive more conservatively or try to drive as least as possible.”

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