The Minister of Energy Toma Petcu said during a press conference that he does not know if the price of fuel has increased lately because he is not a driver and he does not refuel from the pump. He was asked by journalists to comment upon the recent increases in gasoline and diesel prices.

“The Ministry of Energy has no competencies related to this area, regarding the increase of the price of fuel. From what I understood from the Minister of Finance, following discussions with the private market operators, there was a decision to apply this excise duty, the rest, regarding the evolution of prices and whether they have been correctly applied by the operators, there are other institutions of the state that can pronounce themselves” said Petcu, quoted by Agerpres.

At the same time, when asked if he noticed the price increases at the pump, he said: “I do not have a driver’s license, I am not a driver. Honestly, I do not refuel and I do not know the price.”

According to the webistes of the petroleum companies, the price of the cheapest assortments of fuels came close to 5 lei per liter, after which, in mid-September, it was about 4,7 lei for diesel and 4,8 lei for gasoline. With regard to thr premium gasoline and diesel assortments, they have already exceeded the price of 5 lei per liter.

The government has decided to raise excise duty on fuel by 0,16 lei per liter as of September 15th, with a similar increase taking place on October 1st.

Also on Thursday, the President of the Senate Calin Popescu-Tariceanu said he did not see any increase in fuel after the reintroduction of excise duty.

“I did not see any increase in fuel, I know that there have been some price hikes or cuts, I do not know if you have a car, you go to the gas station to buy gasoline or diesel?” No. Pity, I am going. There are some very high price differences that can go up to 10% between the prices of different distribution networks and between the gas stations which are for example in Bucharest, in other areas of the country, in Bucharest and outside the cities, so what are we talking about?” said Tariceanu.

He added that under these circumstances, the Coalition did not discuss this issue.

“We did not talk. What should we talk about ? If the price of oil increases, there will be more predictable price increases, if the price of oil decreases, then there will probably be no price reductions, because oil companies then increase their profit margin. It is a market economy”, sais Tariceanu.