Malta: Gas stations will not sell fuel outside regular opening hours
Fuel will not be available after petrol stations close at 6PM, owners announced after the Maltese government rejected their proposal for a higher profit margin.
Station owners failed to reach an agreement with the Government of Malta and fuel will only be sold during regular opening hours, the Malta Chamber of SMEs (GRTU) said at the beginning of this week.
In a statement following a meeting with station owners, GRTU announced the action would start on Tuesday, reports Times of Malta. The GRTU warned that the measures could escalate over the next days. Station owners will in the meantime be withholding licensing payments from authorities.
Malta Government said last week it had made an alternative proposal to fuel station owners regarding their demand for a higher profit margin. However, the details of this proposal were not released by either side.
The ultimatum setby GRTU expired with no deal reached.
A conflict dating back to 2011
The Maltese Government told owners that sites needed to update their facilities by next year to be in line with the new requirements set by the Environment and Resources Authority and the Regulator for Energy and Water Services.
For the last four years, GRTU and petrol stations owners and the Government have engaged in talks to meet the guidelines set under the new requirements - a cost that could amount to €500,000 per site.
Malta Resources Authority argues that in 2011 it granted fuel stations owners an increased profit, a point rejected by the latter because the increase was shadowed by other costs.
GRTU considers that it has submitted reasonable proposals on how to accommodate the Government request without having to increase the price of petrol and diesel. However, the Maltese Government insists that these last demands would result in higher prices at the pump for consumers in one way or another.
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