Fuel prices down but gas gets dearer

The prices of both diesel and unleaded petrol have fallen but gas went in the opposite direction.

From today, diesel is down four cents to €1.29, its first drop since the end of May, while the price of unleaded fuel drops by three cents to €1.40 and that of kerosene by four cents to €1.29.

There was no change in the price of gasoil for heating which cost 98 cents per litre.

Enemalta said the prices reflected those paid by Enemalta for the latest shipments of imported fuel. Consignments of both unleaded petrol and diesel delivered in August were based on prices which on average were lower than July’s.

According to the latest oil prices bulletin, published by the European Commission, petrol and diesel prices in Malta were both ranked the 14th lowest in the EU, Enemalta said.

Meanwhile, gas distributor Liquigas raised the price of its LPG cylinders by at least 30c. A 10 kilogram cylinder now costs €14.30 instead of €14, a 12 kg cylinder is priced at €17 instead of €16.60 and a 15 kg cylinder retails for €20.80 instead of €20.40. The highest increase was registered in the 25 kg cylinder, which went up by €1.10 to reach €32.10.

Liquigas said the international market was suffering from high price levels and “erratic movements” mainly as a result of the instability in the Mediterranean and the financial crisis in Europe.