According to the database of the European Commission’s weekly oil bulletin, the price of petrol in Malta on March 9, 2009, when the international price of oil was more or less the same as it is now, was €1.04 per litre, or 28c below the present one. The price of diesel in Malta was 94c, which is 28c lower than itis now.

Does this mean Enemed is robbing Maltese consumers28c on every litre of petrol and diesel purchased? Seven years ago, the price of petrol here was lower than the EU27 weighted average but now it is higher. Incidentally, in March 2009, the prices of petrol and diesel net of duties and taxes in Malta were also the highest among the 27 EU member states. This means that both Enemalta, then, and Enemed, now, were either incompetent to procure petrol and diesel at competitive prices or they were making extra profits, much more now than was the case then.

At present, there are 22 EU member states where the price of petrol is lower than in Malta. There are six where the price of petrol is below €1 per litre. In Bulgaria, petrol sells at 90.4c a litre, that is 41.6c cheaper than in Malta. There are 25 EU member states where the price of diesel is lower than in Malta.

In 13 EU countries, diesel sells at below €1 per litre and in Bulgaria it costs 85.7c a litre, or 36.3c less than in Malta. For how long will the Energy Ministry allow its State-owned company Enemed to continue to rob Maltese consumers as a result of its dominant position in the local market?

The Malta Automobile Club retains that the importation, storage and wholesale of petrol and diesel should not remain in government hands. Such functions should be transferred to the local representatives of foreign oil companies , allowing them to compete among themselves on a level playing field to offer the lowest possible prices to consumers here.

Maltese consumers are not and should not be treated as second-class EU citizens.