$9.99-A-Gallon Gas Being Posted in Lukoil Protest

This may be reason enough to ride around and not get it.

Drivers in New Jersey and Pennsylvania saw fuel prices at $9.99 a gallon Wednesday at Lukoil gas stations. About 57% of the franchise's owners are in protest against the price of gas charged by Lukoil North America, thus posting gas costs over $8 at their stations to draw attention to what they claim are the high prices charged to them that they must pass on to consumers, ABC News reports.

"We are doing this because we are dying," said Khaled Kezbari, owner of three Lukoil gas stations in New Jersey. "Lukoil is charging us costs higher than the retail market. How can you compete? You cannot compete in the market like that."

However, Kezbari says the owners are not charging the customers this price and are only posting the prices for 24 hours in protest. He is charging consumers $3.79-a-gallon, which match New Jersey's average gas prices. "It would be ridiculous if they charged that amount," he said. "We are trying to send a message to Lukoil so they know what our feelings are."

A statement was issued by a Lukoil representative saying, "We deeply regret that the NJGCA, a trade lobbyist, has apparently encouraged public misstatements and ill-conceived actions which harm consumers, rather than engage in constructive dialogue." They also stated that the company values their "network of independent dealers."