Protests against fuel prices

In many Romanian gas stations unprecedented protests against the price of gasoline have been held in recent days.

The participants, members of a car forum on the internet, met in several gas stations, where they powered their cars with very small amounts of fuel and paid in 10 or 50 bani coins.

The queues formed in some cases led to the pump gas stations being closed.

Fuel prices in Europe

The European Commission data show the price of gasoline in Romania compared to the ones in other European Union states. According to them, tax -free gasoline price varies between 643 euros per tonne in Denmark and 525 euros in Ireland, while the EU average price is 580 euros.

In Romania the average price is around 575 euros.

In mid December 2010, the European Commission data showed a price of 1142 euros per litre, inclusive of taxes.

On January 1st, excise duties on unleaded petrol and diesel increased by more than 3%.

The excise duty on unleaded petrol incresed from 452 euros to 467 euros per tonne, while the price of diesel increased from 347 euros to 358 euros per tonne.

Starting January 1st, most gas stations charge prices above 5 lei per litre of gasoline.

Photo: Gasoline price components

575 euros per tonne

467 euros per tonne

128 euros per tonne

Excise duty — 39.91%

Refining, distribution, company profit — 10.94%

Crude oil price — 49.15%

Source: statistical data from Bucharest and Brussels

A calculation indicates a price of 1170 euros for a tonne of gasoline, meaning 1.170 euros per litre. The amount is higher than the one announced in mid December by the European Commission because of the increase in excise duty from January 1st, 2011.

Translated by: Denisse-Meda Bucura

MA Student, MTTLC, Bucharest University