The price of diesel has continued to go down according to the European Commission and the weighted average price of the Euro Area 19 was 1.223 euro per litre on Monday, 20th July according to the consumer prices of petroleum products inclusive of duties and taxes published by the Commission.
There are now 21 EU countries where the price of diesel is less than in Malta. These are: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain.
In Luxembourg, the price of diesel is €1.05 euro per litre that is €0.21 euro less than Malta's!
There are 12 EU countries where the price of petrol is less than in Malta. These are: Austria, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Poland, Romania, and Spain.
In Bulgaria, the price of petrol is €1.184 euro per litre, which is practically €0.17 euro less than Malta's?
At what price is Enemed Company Ltd purchasing its petrol and diesel? Why cannot Enemed procure its supplies from the same sources as some of these EU countries? How much profit is Enemed making on these petroleum products?
Is the government satisfied with the dominant position enjoyed by Enemed? What happened to the liberalisation of the local petroleum market? Is the European Commission taking a nap?
Are Maltese consumes of no concern to the European Commission? Why were the infringement procedures lifted when Maltese consumers did not benefit from the legal notices published by the government in Malta?
The importation, storage and sale of petroleum products are not government business, and the local market should be open to local representatives of the foreign oil companies on a level playing field.
Are there no Members of Parliament on the government side that are willing to promote the interests of consumers? What is the Ministry for Consumer Affairs doing about the local petroleum market?
The Malta Automobile Club shall continue to bring up this subject week after week until the prices of petroleum products are lowered, and until consumers have a choice of different brands and grades of petrol and diesel at local filling stations.
Alfred A. Farrugia
Malta Automobile Club