Opposition Demands Fuel Price Transparency in Malta

Opposition Demands Fuel Price Transparency

Malta’s opposition Nationalist Party (PN) is calling on the government to disclose the cost of BP fuel at the Valletta terminal, as the price of petrol and diesel soars across Europe. The PN’s shadow minister for energy, Jason Azzopardi, has written to the Minister for Energy, Miriam Dalli, urging her to reveal the cost of fuel at the terminal, arguing that transparency is key to understanding why Maltese consumers are paying more at the pumps.

Fuel Prices: A European Concern

The current fuel price hike is not unique to Malta. Across Europe, consumers are feeling the pinch as oil prices surge due to increased demand and supply chain disruptions. In Malta, petrol prices have risen by around 20 cents per litre in the past year, with diesel up by about 15 cents. The PN argues that the government could be doing more to shield consumers from these increases.

Government Response: Subsidies and Caps

The government has implemented measures to mitigate the impact of rising fuel prices. It has introduced subsidies for low-income households and capped the price of diesel at €1.35 per litre. However, the PN contends that these measures are not enough and that the government should be more proactive in negotiating better fuel prices for Malta. They point to the fact that the government has not yet exercised its option to buy fuel at a discounted rate from the BP terminal in Valletta.

In a statement, Azzopardi said, “The government has a duty to ensure that Maltese consumers are not being overcharged for fuel. We need transparency in the fuel pricing mechanism, and we need the government to use its us to secure better prices for Maltese consumers.”