Surprise at the pump Thursday morning. A large network of gas stations has significantly cheaper gasoline and diesel
The price of a liter of gasoline fell by 35 banis on Thursday morning, while diesel fuel went down by 30 banis in Petrom and OMV stations, owned by the largest oil company in Romania.
Thus, in Petrom stations, standard gasoline costs 8.37 lei per liter, at MOL – 8.82 lei, and at OMV – 8.48 lei per liter, according to data from the Fuel Price Monitor application.
The premium range of gasoline is sold for 8.85 lei at Petrom, 9.45 lei at MOL, 9.11 lei at OMV and 9.29 lei at Rompetrol.
Standard diesel is 9.28 lei per liter at Petrom stations and 9.37 lei at MOL and OMV, and premium diesel costs 10.05 lei at Petrom, 10.19 lei at OMV and 10.24 lei at MOL gas stations.
Oil prices have fallen in recent weeks and hit $95 a barrel on Thursday, down from a peak of $112 a barrel on March 23 and another peak of $110 on April 6.
However, the IMF warns that there is a risk of a global recession, which will also extend into next year, according to the OilPrice.com publication.
Romania is preparing to restart the Petrotel Lukoil refinery
In Romania, the restart of the Petrotel Lukoil refinery, which cannot be possible earlier than 45 days, may bring a breather to the fuel market. The Lukoil-owned refinery has been closed since last fall, following the imposition of US sanctions on Lukoil's international assets.
The Minister of Energy, Bogdan Ivan, announced on Wednesday that Romania received a waiver from the sanctions against Lukoil applied by the American authorities.
“It's huge news for our country. It's the best thing that could happen to Romania in this period,” said the Minister of Energy, Bogdan Ivan, visiting Washington.
According to him, after the restart of the refinery, Romania will have the lowest prices in the region.
“Romania will internally produce all the gasoline it consumes and over 60% of the diesel, as well as all the aviation fuel we need in our country. In addition, it ensures that we are more stable in the face of international price fluctuations. Given that diesel costs double on international markets compared to a month ago, in Romania we have an increase of 30 or so percent, so it means that we will have lower prices than in the rest of the region,” claimed Bogdan Ivan, for Antena 3 CNN.
