A Rabat petrol station has scrapped plans to cut its diesel price by 2c, with the owner complaining he was pressured by the fuel supplier. 

Mario Camilleri, owner at M&N Camilleri fuel pump, said the supplier -  Falzon Group - this morning contacted him and demanded he restore the price after the company received complaints from other fuel stations.

“I was warned that the increased profit margin given to us by the supplier in January would be withdrawn, forcing me to put the price back up at €1.35,” Mr Camilleri said.

He explained that on January 1 the Falzon Group had improved the profit margin for filling station owners, and he had planned to pass on the increased profit margin to the consumer by selling the San Lucian diesel at €1.33 per litre as from this morning.

But it seems the price competition did not last long.

Malta liberalised the fuel market when it joined the EU but this has not benefited consumers at the pump. Enemed (the State company that took over Enemalta’s petroleum division last year) enjoys a virtual monopoly and a handful of other fuel suppliers have always pegged their prices with that of Enemed.

“I am very angry and disappointed,” Mr Camilleri said after having taken the bold step, which would have ensured price competition returned to the market since the early 1970s.