After Eni, also Ip announces a intervention to calm petrol and diesel pricesThe knock-on effect hoped for by the Meloni government is thus beginning to take shape, while fuel prices continue to run high and weigh on the budgets of families and businesses.
From today, September 28th, Eni applies on the network Enilive imposes a price cap of 1,99 euros per litre for petrol e 2,19 euros for diesel, approximately 17 and 19 cents less than the national average prices recorded the day before, equal to 2,159 and 2,377 euros per litre respectively. The measure it will last 30 days, with the possibility of being extended until the end of the year based on market and supply trends.
The measure comes as, from Saturday 26 September, the lockdown has also become lighter. tax discount on diesel fuel, down to 6,1 cents per litre from the previous 12,2 and the initial 17 cents.
Fuel prices also cut by IP
Ip, controlled by the Azerbaijani company socar, which has owned Italiana Petroli since last May, has responded to the government's appeal and is starting today with reduced rates for a month at its own distributors, before gradually extending the measure to the 4.575 IP-branded stations in Italy, including those of partners and contracted operators.
For now, however, the most anticipated number is missing: How much will the discount be? Ip has not set a single ceiling national, but will set the prices "based on different needs", with the aim of supporting a supply chain that involves thousands of operators. The company is also evaluating extending the intervention to Esso stations and to other distributors who purchase fuel from IP and sell it under their own brand, i.e. to the so-called extra-network.
The competition issue
With Eni and Ip in the field, the market is moving but a question also arises for the smaller operatorsThe two companies together operate more than a third of Italy's approximately 21.750 gas stations, while another 20% is owned by Q8 and Tamoil, which have not yet followed suit. The rest of the network is made up mostly of small brands and independent gas stations, which may have more difficulty sustaining such low prices.
Hence the protest of Assopetroli“For our operators those conditions are not practicable,” explained the Secretary General. Sebastian Gallitelli, according to which the initiative risks "distorting the supply chain." The association will also discuss the possibility of initiatives to protect operators.
The government, instead, is banking on the domino effect. Antonio Tajani defined the intervention as a voluntary contribution to support families and businesses, while the Codacons asks Ip to precisely indicate the amount of the reduction: without a clear price, the association argues, the risk is that the discount will remain more on paper than at the pump.
