On Friday, the Sejm passed and the Senate adopted two bills aimed at reducing fuel prices by reducing excise duty and introducing a maximum price. On the same day, President Karol Nawrocki signed new regulations, which were published in the Journal of Laws on Saturday. Minister of Finance and Economy Andrzej Domański announced that regulations on the reduction of VAT and excise duty on fuels have also been signed, and lower prices are to appear at stations from Tuesday.
“There was supposed to be a reduction in fuel prices, and Orlen has been quietly raising prices for two days!” – Jarosław Kaczyński wrote on Saturday on Platform X. The PiS president also accused Prime Minister Donald Tusk of suspending the publication of the act and pointed to the actions of Orlen management board members nominated by the current government.
Read also: Orlen reacts to the increase in crude oil prices. There is another change
Wojciech Balczun, Minister of State Assets, commented on the allegations. — Another “brainwash” of citizens and an attempt to make political capital. We have one of the best protection programs in Europe – he wrote on the X platform, pointing out that the relevant laws have already been implemented.
The Orlen Press Office emphasized that over the last two days, global diesel prices have increased by 12%, exceeding the levels of 2022. At the same time, Orlen's wholesale prices increased by 4.5%. The company noted that nearly 40 percent diesel sold in Poland is imported.
According to Orlen's official data, on Saturday, the wholesale price of Ekodiesel diesel oil increased by PLN 171 to PLN 7,041 per cubic metera Eurosuper 95 gasoline by PLN 103 to PLN 5,714 per cubic meter. For comparison, just a day earlier the prices were PLN 6,870 and PLN 5,611, respectively.
Read also: Electric cars benefit from expensive fuel. Charging is now cheaper than refueling
Global factors also influence price increases. After the US and Israel attacked Iran, oil prices on global markets began to increase dynamically, which translated into prices of finished fuels. On Friday, WTI crude oil contracts in the US increased by 5.78% and Brent contracts by 4.97%.
The Polish Press Agency reminds that according to Orlen's wholesale price list from February 28, on the day of the outbreak of the conflict in the Middle East, Eurosuper 95 gasoline cost PLN 4,466 per cubic meter, and Ekodiesel PLN 4,809. This means an increase of PLN 1,248 and PLN 2,232, respectively, over recent weeks.
