According to Article 4 of Chapter 510 concerning the functions of the Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority Act (MCCAA), “the Authority shall have as its purpose the attainment and maintenance of well-functioning markets for the benefit of consumers and economic operators”.

The functions of the authority are “to promote and enhance competition... to safeguard consumers’ interests and enhance their welfare”. The MCCAA has failed miserably when it comes to the inland petroleum market in Malta. It has failed to promote and enhance competition or to safeguard the interests of consumers.

Nine months ago, the MCCAA is reported to have declared that the investigation into the fuel market was proving to be very complex.

It is unbelievable that it has still not determined whether the reduction of 2c in the price of diesel and the immediate increase of 2c under pressure of the supplier of diesel on the filling station in Rabat determined an irregular practice in competition rules.

In 2011, the Malta Resources Authority (MRA) had introduced “maximum retail mark-up for petrol station owners”. But the MRA, like the MCCAA, has been toothless to enforce its authority on the petrol station owners since two diesel suppliers joined the local market.

If the two private diesel suppliers were providing diesel at a lower cost than Enemalta or Enemed, how is it possible that the petrol station owners concerned were not exceeding the mark-up when they were selling the diesel at the same price as that supplied by Enemalta or Enemed?

The MCCAA did not need nine months to conclude its investigation on the Rabat case. It, and the MRA, should have had all the information necessary at their finger tips before the case had even happened.

It is evident that the MCCAAis only interested in a well-functioning market for the benefit of economic operators, but has forsaken completely the benefits of the consumers.