The National Agency for Energy Regulation (NAER) said that under the legal provisions, the license holders set and modify by themselves the retail prices of the main oil products and liquefied petroleum gas. But the fuel sellers must present the calculations to the NAER within three days of the day the new prices are posted. Until now the Agency received no information about the changes in fuel prices, IPN reports.
According to the Agency, the license holders set and modify by themselves the prices taking into account the consumption and costs related to the sale of the given products, in accordance with the applied accounting standards, with an annual markup of at most 10%. The prices are calculated based on the import price of oil products, excise duties and value added tax put in accordance with the Tax Code. The commercial and administrative costs associated with the retailing of the main oil products and liquefied petroleum gas and the applied profit margin are taken into account.
“At the same time, the budgetary-fiscal policy for 2020 stipulates higher excise duties, for gasoline – 5,960 lei/tonne or by 546 lei (10%) more than in 2019, for diesel fuel – 2,508 lei/tonne or by 228 (10%) lei more than in 2019 and for liquefied petroleum gas – 3,580 lei/tonne or by 174 lei (5%) more than in 2019,” the Agency says in a press release.
Deputy Parliament Speaker Alexandru Slusari also issued a statement, saying the Party “Dignity and Truth Platform” considers the rise in fuel prices is an abuse and an anti-competition cartel agreement of oil companies. According to him, the rises are not justified as the oil prices at world level reduced from US$69 to US$64 per barrel during January 5-17. The PPPDA group requests the Competition Council to examine the situation and order investigations. The NAER is requested to immediately initiate inspections.
A number of filling stations posted higher fuel prices. The prices of gasoline and diesel fuel rose by 0.7 lei on average, while the liquefied petroleum gas is now by 1.2 lei more expensive.
