Updated at 9.20pm: Adds government statement

The price of diesel advance has gone up by 13c to the detriment of workers and industries making use of this fuel, the PN’s spokesman on energy, David Agius said.

Mr Agius said in a statement the price was increased without the people being informed and went against the government promise that the people were to have cheaper and more stable energy rates.

The increase, he said, was one of a series people were facing in the energy sector. They were also being robbed on water and electricity rates, with more frequent bills through which they were being charged higher rates.

PL denies increase

But in a statement later, the Labour Party said it was not true that the price had gone up. The price of petrol and diesel it said, had remained stable and was much lower than it had been under Nationalist governments.

The PN’s statement showed that the spokesman had no idea what was happening in the sector.

The product he referred to was placed on the market by a private company because there was competition. The government was no involved and could not determine the price.

To be partisan, the PN was willing to cast doubts on how the free market worked. The country would really be risking if the PN had to be trusted with the management of the economy, the PL said.

Enemed's prices stable for more than 15 months - government

In another statement, the government said the PN’s spokesman was either incompetent or was changing the Opposition’s position and wanted the government to interfere in the liberalised fuels market.

The product he referred to was sold by a private company.

The prices set by Enemed had been stable for more than 15 months, showing that the long-term contracts the company had reached were bearing fruit.

Although hedging did not always allow one to keep prices below market rates, the government was to continue working to keep prices stable.