Between 18 and 25 September the discount on diesel excise duty was in force, a cut of 12.2 euro cents (VAT included). On 26 September, as announced some time ago by the government, this reduction was halved: the excise duty was reduced to 6.1 cents per liter including VAT. The measure is valid until October 5th.
The innovation announced by Eni began on Monday 28 September: on the Enilive network, a price cap of a maximum of 1.99 euros per liter for petrol and 2.19 euros for diesel has been set, approximately 17 cents less than the average levels considered by the company at the time of the announcement. The giant's service stations are around 4 thousand, which corresponds to 20% of the Italian fuel distribution market. The cap is initially scheduled for 30 days, but the company has left open the possibility of an extension until the end of the year.
A difference of 17 cents per liter compared to the average price is equivalent to saving around 8.5 euros on a 50-litre fill-up. And it can be even more interesting on the motorway where average prices are even higher. In the first few days the move caused some queues of motorists at the petrol stations.
Eni's choice has in fact started a domino. The Azerbaijani group Socar, which controls Italiana petroli (IP), has announced an intervention to control fuel prices on its network. A ceiling with a national maximum price has not been set. The measure therefore comes into force progressively and with different conditions on a network of over 4,500 service stations, starting with those owned by the company, around 2 thousand, and then extending to the others. Furthermore, Socar is studying how to apply the discounts also to Esso brand distributors and other operators who purchase fuel from Ip. On the IP network, the list price displayed must therefore be evaluated because it varies between different distributors.
Starting tomorrow, Thursday 1 October, Q8 will also introduce a price cap on petrol and diesel for 30 days. A single maximum price valid for the entire network was not communicated as Eni did. There was only talk of a "modular approach". Also in this case, therefore, the convenience can only be assessed in the individual systems.
Eni, Ip and Q8 put together are worth over 11 thousand service stations, more than half of those present in Italy. Therefore their initiatives have a concrete impact on the market. And the competitive push is pushing other operators to cut prices. Yesterday Mimit announced that according to data from the Observatory on fuel prices, the average price of fuel in 'self service' mode along the national road network is 2.126 euros per liter for petrol and 2.335 euros per liter for diesel. On the motorway network the average self-service price is 2.180 euros per liter for petrol and 2.383 euros per liter for diesel. All figures down compared to previous days.
Another piece must be added to all this. The fixed reduction in excise duty on diesel will end on 5 October. And from the following day, October 6, in the absence of new government interventions, the rate would be destined to return to the normal level. But the executive has already announced that it wants to apply the mobile excise duty mechanism, an instrument that links the possibility of reducing the tax to the extra VAT revenue generated by the increase in the price of oil. Since this discount is not fixed, it cannot already be quantified and consequently the savings for users cannot be calculated in advance.
It is too early to understand the effect of the various moves. For those who drive it is important to compare the prices charged by distributors on a daily basis, because the discounts also vary from one system to another within the same network. By monitoring the price lists you can also save several euros on a full tank. A final unexpected variable concerns the trend of international crises with consequent impacts on oil prices.
Just yesterday Brussels expressed its fears of a "difficult winter" for families and businesses. No immediate risk to gas or oil supplies. But what is worrying are the high energy prices. The scenarios are making the EU evaluate the possibility of postponing for a year, to 2028, the entry into force of restrictions on imports of crude oil, natural gas or coal to avoid methane leaks, which industries and various capitals, including Italy, have insisted on for months.
"Everything the government does is an appeal to lend a hand to families and businesses" in this international context, said Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. "I was very happy with the participation first of Eni, then of IP and Q8 for the attention received, I see that the topic extends to bills. I hope that the actors will choose to lend a hand, responding to an appeal to do their best compatible with what can be done in a moment of difficulty. I am satisfied and I thank everyone who makes an effort".
