Updated at 6.28pm

Fuel pumps will remain open throughout the night on Saturday and Sunday, the GRTU said on Saturday, following a “positive” meeting with Energy Minister Joe Mizzi.

In a brief statement, the Chamber of Small and Medium Enterprises said that it would be meeting fuel station owners on Monday to present a proposal negotiated with the government.

Although it gave no indication of what the offer consisted of, the GRTU said it would not lead to higher fuel prices.

“Consumers will not be impacted,” the union pledged, as it said industrial action - which was suspended on Friday as a sign of "good will" - would remain on hold until its Monday meeting. 

In a separate statement, the Energy Ministry said the union had accepted a deal which would not hurt consumers' or businesses' pockets. 

Fuel station owners began shutting down their pumps at 6pm every day from last Monday, as a sign of protest after failing to strike a deal with the government about how they would finance pump upgrades which must be in place by next year.

Operators must refurbish their stations by 2020 to ensure they are in line with requirements set by the environment and energy regulators, ERA and REWS.

They say the upgrades could cost as much as €500,000 per station and that they cannot afford to undertake the works without a helping hand from the government.

The government has pointed to a 2011 decision to increase fuel stations’ profit margins, and argued that giving in to station owners’ demands would necessitate an increase in fuel prices.