Spain: Biggest price difference between diesel and gasoline in over a decade
The difference between gasoline and diesel prices in Spain is at its highest point in a decade, with the litre of unleaded costing €0.17 cents more than diesel.
Last week, the breach in prices between the two major vehicle fuels stood at €0.175, the highest since the European Union started recording these figures, reports El País.
The average price at Spanish gas stations is currently at €1,30 per litre, while diesel is being sold at €1,13 a litre.
In comparison to data from previous years, the price differential has increased dramatically, with an average disparity between unleaded and diesel fuels at €0.11 a litre for 2014, and €0.10 in 2013.
In Spain diesel is widely used as the government imposed lower taxes on the fuel, therefore making it cheaper for motorists. Most of the vehicles in Spain are powered by diesel, especially heavy duty ones. At the end of 2014, more than 65% of Spanish cars ran on diesel.
One of the reasons for this fuel preference was the support from European governments for diesel. However, this has changed in recent years as new evidence has emerged showing higher pollution rates for diesel. The new official policy stance is towards encouriging the use of alternative fuel such as LNG, CNG, hydrogen or electric.
