At €1.26 per litre, the price of diesel in Malta is higher than that in 23 EU countries, according to the consumer prices of petroleum products inclusive of duties and taxes published by the European Commission on August 24.

As the prices of diesel and petrol continued to come down, there are now 16 EU countries where petrol is sold cheaper than in Malta.

At what price is Enemed Company Ltd purchasing its supplies? Is it being taken for a ride by the supplier? Or is it taking Maltese consumers for a ride?

Why can’t Maltese consumers benefit from the lowering of prices of petroleum products as in the rest of the EU?

Enemed is a State-owned company and it evidently follows what the Ministry for Energy dictates to it.

Our competition authorities are a joke when it comes to State-owned companies.

And the European Commission is asleep!

When will the Ministry for Social Dialogue, Consumer Affairs and Civil Liberties decide to start addressing the needs and rights of Maltese consumers when it comes to the purchase of petroleum products?

What kind of civil liberty do we enjoy in Malta when we are not in a position to purchase the brand and grade of petrol and diesel of our choice?

Who is taking care of consumer affairs when Enemed continues to enjoy a dominant position in the local market?

The importation, storage and sale of petroleum products is not government business. If Enemed is not in a position to lower petrol and diesel prices when international prices go down, it should make room for representatives of foreign oil companies. Enemed should simply act as a regulator to prevent representatives of foreign oil companies from taking advantage of consumers.