Fuel prices rose again on Thursday morning, by 9 banis per liter, after, the day before, prices in gas stations had increased by 15 banis, according to the Fuel Price Monitor application, analyzed by HotNews.
In gas stations in Bucharest, the cheapest assortment of gasoline costs 8.20 lei at Petrom, 8.21 lei at Lukoil and 8.28 lei at OMV stations. Premium gasoline passed the 9 lei barrier and is sold at 9.02 lei per liter in OMV gas stations.
Diesel fuel is even more expensive. The standard assortment costs 8.51 lei at Petrom and 8.58 lei at OMV, and premium diesel reaches 9.14 lei per liter.
Prices differ from one gas station chain to another, but also from one station to another within the same company, depending on the operating costs of each.
In Romania, at the pump, 50-55% of the final price are taxes collected by the state, i.e. excise duty and VAT.
Specialists expect gas station prices to reach 10 lei per liter if the war in Iran continues and the price of oil continues to rise.
The government is analyzing the possibility of reducing excise duties
The Minister of Energy, Bogdan Ivan, admitted on Tuesday that there is a risk of reaching this scenario, although, the day before, he had said that these estimates were “blatant lies”.
He announced that the Government is considering a possible reduction in fuel taxes, to avoid prices reaching 10 lei per liter.
“We are doing everything necessary to avoid getting there. We are considering how we will be able to temper this growth, including from the resettlement area, on a certain difference, for a limited period of time of the fiscal areas, including excise taxes. There are working scenarios that we are now working on,” said the Minister of Energy, on Antena 3 CNN.
He claimed that in Romania there are still lower increases than in other European states.
Queues in gas stations in several European countries
In several European countries, including Germany, Greece, France and Britain, motorists formed queues at petrol stations to ensure they stock up before prices rise further, local media reported.
On Wednesday, the Confederation of Authorized Operators and Transporters from Romania (COTAR) sent a request to the Government to halve excise duties on diesel and gasoline. This “to avoid an unprecedented economic crisis, in the context of the threat on the international fuel market that could have a devastating impact on Romania”.
