Eni announces a cap on fuel prices: 1.99 euros for petrol and 2.19 for diesel for at least thirty days

Will the excise duty cut on diesel be halved? Eni enters the field, announcing a cap on the prices of its fuels - 1.99 euros per liter for petrol and 2.19 euros for diesel - for at least thirty days: a "new contribution of solidarity to the country, to consumers and to its customers". After saying goodbye to car tax, it is the second breath of fresh air for the Government, which this time is the result of the "excellent relationship" between Giorgia Meloni and Eni CEO Claudio Descalzi, as sources close to the dossier are keen to underline. The prime minister's moral suasion had been underway ever since the difficulty of managing to control the costs of petrol and diesel only for the weakest sections of the population became clear. Another road was needed; was found.

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«The Government thanks Eni for the important initiative», reads the official note from Palazzo Chigi. «A commendable act of attention to Italy, which goes in the desired direction of calming the high cost of fuel which, due to the difficult international context, is affecting Italian families». Gratitude also comes from the deputy prime ministers, with different tones. The Italian Antonio Tajani praises the method: «Not dirigiste interventions or new taxations built around the concept of extra profits, but responsibility, collaboration and market». The Northern League member Matteo Salvini says he appreciates "Eni's decision to give up takings in the millions" and immediately hopes "that banks and other large companies in the energy and oil sector will also follow this example".

Even within Fratelli d'Italia, Meloni's party, there is hope for a driving effect, trusting that other distributor brands will move in Eni's wake, without the need to proceed with a tax on energy groups. Even in view of the maneuver, even more so after the cold shower of the failure to exit the EU procedure early due to excessive deficit, everyone is convinced that it will be necessary to open a new discussion with both the credit institutions and the subsidiaries (see Il Sole 24 Ore on Thursday). Under the banner of "who can help".

The price cap, meanwhile, will start next Monday in all Enilive stations, including on the motorway. As for the duration, for now, it is certain that it will continue until the end of October, but the company has not ruled out the possibility of extending it until the end of the year depending on market and supply trends.

The new measure doesn't arrive on a random day. Because today the second stage of the strategy put in place by the Government to abandon the path of (expensive) excise duty cuts began and diesel will cost 6.1 cents more per liter. An increase that will bring diesel prices close to 2.4 euros, while petrol, without a discount since the beginning of July, is just a few cents away from the historical record of 2.184 euros. Prices considered unsustainable by various categories, primarily that of hauliers, with Assotir who yesterday did not rule out a strike together with the other representatives which "would block the whole country", as warned by the general secretary Claudio Donati.