The consumers’ association has called on the government to reduce fuel prices in line with the international price of oil, which has fallen from over $100 to below $50 since June.

This was happening because the US had doubled oil production and drastically reduced imports, the association said. The Maltese were still paying high prices for petrol and diesel, which was a substantial expense for them, it added.

Last month, energy shadow minister Marthese Portelli said the downward trend in oil prices was not reflected in the fuel prices motorists were paying, which were among the highest in the EU.

Malta last week had the fifth highest price for diesel in the EU and the 10th highest for petrol. The association also insisted the government should act on the traffic situation as consumers were wasting petrol stuck in jams.