Virgil Popescu, the Minister of Energy, was asked during a press conference in which he announced the emergency ordinance for the cheapening of fuels, if the price of gasoline and diesel could increase following the application of these changes, and his answer is a complex one, without predictions for Romanians.
Virgil Popescu makes it clear that anything is possible because of the war in Ukraine, the conflict being the main reason why petrol and diesel prices have increased so much, so as this conflict continues, anything becomes possible since Romania import half of the fuel needed.
"It is very complicated to make predictions at the moment. I can tell you that, in the last week, we have not witnessed price increases, we have not witnessed quotation increases. It was like that to some extent, but in the current context with the war in Ukraine and the high demand for oil products in Ukraine, because after all, the demand dictates this price, and Romania consumes 6,2 million tons of diesel and 1,7 .XNUMX million tons of gasoline.
We produce more gasoline than we consume, but we produce less diesel, about half. We are dependent on diesel imports. And it's not that we don't produce, that we can't produce, this is the technical capacity. A barrel of oil produces more gasoline, less diesel, and less.
This it's the technique. And then we have to import, and the import is done at a regional quotation. Those who sell in Ukraine and Romania and Greece and Bulgaria, all countries in the region, also bid on this regional quotation. This is our problem, so to speak. The price of diesel has increased much more than the price of a barrel of oil.
To give you an idea, if it was 700 or so dollars a ton in January, now it is 1.300 or so. So it's grown a lot over this period since the war broke out, basically from the 25th of February. From there the price increased and then, if you don't import, you have a shortage, if you import, you have the price that it is. People should trust that the ordinance will be applied by as many gas station chains as possible.
The ordinance stipulates that when gas stations assume the decrease of 50 money, 25 money is borne from the state budget. The Ordinance provides a legislative framework and voluntary compliance, it is not mandatory. I, from what I know in the market at the moment, am convinced that most gas station chains, if not all, will apply this ordinance and Romanians will benefit from this 50 bani discount at practically all stations in Romania."
