Monday is the last day of reduced fuel prices - queues at stations, price increases from Tuesday

Monday is the last day of validity of the Lower Fuel Prices package, i.e. reduced by 8%. VAT rates and maximum prices of gasoline and diesel oil. We pay a maximum of PLN 6.64 for a liter of Pb95, PLN 7.46 for Pb98, and PLN 7.31 for diesel oil.

Queues at gas stations

In the afternoon, long queues of cars formed in front of gas pumps at gas stations all over Poland. Drivers wanted to refuel before the prices returned to before the reduction.

In Zakopane and Podhale, the end of the holidays also resulted in increased traffic at stations. On Monday, tourists who were spending the last day of their vacation near Giewont were preparing to leave and wanted to refuel their cars before setting off.

At the largest Orlen station in Zakopane's Ustup around 20, only remnants of Pb98 gasoline and diesel oil remained - a station employee told PAP.

There was a shortage of fuel, among other things. at the BP station in Zakopane, and other stations were running out of supplies. Drivers could still refuel with LPG.

We received signals about gas pumps being closed in the evening on the RMF hotline, also from Krakow.

End of CPN, 23% returns. VAT

From Tuesday, September 1, the 23% will be restored. VAT rates, which will automatically result in increases in retail prices of fuels included in the package. Market analysts expect price increases for gasoline and diesel oil to range from PLN 60 to PLN 90 per liter.

The first version of the CPN package was introduced at the end of March this year. It was a response to rapidly rising oil prices in connection with the conflict between the United States and Israel with Iran, which broke out on February 28. The CPN was in force until the end of June and included regulations under which a reduced VAT rate was applied to petrol and diesel oil - and the maximum price of these fuels at gas stations was set. The package also included a temporary reduction in excise duty on fuel, which was valid until mid-June.

The CPN came into force again on August 17. The maximum price was determined according to a specific formula, including the average wholesale price of fuel on the domestic market, plus excise duty, fuel fee, sales margin of PLN 0.30 per liter and VAT. Sales above the maximum price were subject to a penalty of up to PLN 1 million.

According to the Ministry of Finance, the current cost of the CPN program has amounted to approximately PLN 4.7 billion. The resumption of the reduced VAT rate for the last two weeks of August was to cost the state budget approximately PLN 495 million.