The energy company Socar has decided to regulate the prices of fuels marketed on the Italian market by its subsidiary Italiana Petroli (Ip). The group, which finalized the acquisition of Italiana Petroli from Api Holding last May 8, explains in a note that it has decided to "strengthen its commitment towards Italy" with "the aim of setting a limit on the sales prices of petrol and diesel along the fuel distribution network". "The limit will be applied progressively, starting from the IP brand network - it is explained - guaranteeing significant support to the partners and network operators with whom the company has built a relationship of full trust, transparency and collaboration over the years, which distinguishes it within the national energy panorama".
"The price value will be established based on the different needs to guarantee the survival of the supply chain, made up of thousands of operators", explains the note, which underlines that "in this way the Azerbaijani state company adheres to the Italian Government's appeal to meet the needs of families and businesses, which for over six months have been faced with extraordinarily high fuel prices due to the context of strong geopolitical instability that impacts global supply chains". The limit will come into effect from tomorrow and "will be applied progressively", explains the note. "At the same time, the most effective ways to extend the mechanism to Esso branded stations and to other operators in the supply chain who supply from IP and distribute through their own brands throughout the national territory will be studied". "The decision - continues the note - confirms Socar's closeness to Italy, at the moment in which the Azerbaijani company formalizes a strategic partnership with the Italian Football Federation (FIGC), becoming the global energy partner of the men's and women's national football teams from 1 January 2027 to 31 December 2030, with the possibility of extension for a further two years".
The news comes as pump prices continue to rise in our country. The Ministry of Business and Made in Italy announces that, based on the latest data collected by the Mimit Observatory on fuel prices, today, Sunday 27 September 2026, the average price of fuel in 'self-service' mode along the national road network is equal to 2.159 euros per liter for petrol (from 2.158 yesterday) and 2.377 euros per liter for diesel (from 2.357 yesterday). On the motorway network, diesel is increasingly closer to 2.5 euros per litre: the average self-service price is 2.254 euros for petrol (2.252 yesterday) and 2.459 euros for diesel (from 2.439 yesterday).
The cap on fuel prices is causing discussion among industry associations. "Eni subrogates the State on excise duties. The operation disrupts the distribution market, putting the network of majors and independent operators in check. Consumers breathe, managers suffer more", we read in an article published on the website of Figisc, the federation of petrol plant managers adhering to Confcommercio.
"Now it is the public company that takes the chestnuts out of the fire instead of the State, in the wake of what TotalEnergies has done in France (a State which, incidentally, has not reduced excise duties - 0.690 euros per liter for petrol and 0.607 for diesel, not exactly modest - in this crisis), thus acquiring sales volumes (the 'discounts' of the summer weekends of 2012 come to mind), gratitude and merit and, as a by-product of the operation, cornering the discussion, which is often easy to grasp demagogic, on the taxation of excess profits".
The reference is to the French giant TotalEnergies, which in the spring decided on a price cap which was then extended several times. The move, however, in addition to infuriating the independent operators - who in July filed a complaint with the French Antitrust claiming that the initiative distorts competition - has also had repercussions on inventories, with petrol stations under siege and fuel in short supply.
The Figisc article continues: "If the Eni operation can give partial relief to consumers exhausted by the price hike, however - it is observed - it has the effect of upsetting the distribution market: there are those who immediately argued that it is an operation implemented by virtue of a dominant position, of dumping and unfair competition. And if this makes sense for a good part of the distribution network, now made up of many independent operators who will have to suffer competition without having any possibility of countering it, the The question is also: what will the other oil majors, new and old, present on our market do, displaced by the move of the State Company?".
"And going down the supply chain to the forecourt, what will become of all those managers who are not Eni, who will find themselves, without the protection network of their company, out of the market with yet another blow to an economic sustainability that has already been in crisis for years, minimum margins linked to liters sold not to price, and already fierce and now ferocious competitiveness?", asks the federation of petrol plant managers belonging to Confcommercio.
Figisc then also points out: "And what will the Eni managers themselves, whose stocks are significantly devalued (already devalued when excise duties fell), what will they do when - as has already happened here, but just in recent days in France in the TotalEnergies plants - it is difficult to cope with supplies? Of course, consumers cannot care less about this, but the distribution system is still an economic system that must hold up".
Despite these concerns, pressure is growing for other companies to follow Eni's example (as happened with the IP network). "We are surprised by the timing with which Eni implements the initiative, perhaps to demonstrate that something can be done, precisely at the same time as the debate on the extra profits of oil companies and companies - said the national vice president of Adoc, Alessandro Cafagna, speaking at the regional Congress of the Consumer Orientation Defense Association - And we regret that it is the private sector, even if participated by the State, that takes the initiative while we continue to support that workers, families and citizens are asking for structural tools. We hope that Let Eni's example be followed by other companies. We will think about a real reform of the Italian energy market, as we have been doing for months." "Finally something is moving on the fuel front - commented the president of Assoutenti, Gabriele Melluso - The decision to resort to the price cap mechanism is positive for two reasons: firstly it will allow immediate savings for motorists who refuel at Enilive plants, on the other hand it could trigger a virtuous competitive push, pushing other oil companies to adopt similar measures so as not to lose market share".
