Updated - Adds GRTU statement announcing deadline - The GRTU has set a deadline for the end of this week for the conclusion of talks with the government on its demand for a raise in the profit margins of petrol station owners from the sale of fuel.
The decision was taken after the government said it had rejected the claim made by the association but has made an alternative proposal.
The station owners, represented by the GRTU, are calling for a raise in their margins in view of improvements they need to make to their establishments.
The GRTU said that should no agreement be reached by the end of this week, it would call a general meeting of the petrol station owners on Monday.
The GRTU warned last week that fuel stations would stop operating unless an agreement was reached over an increase in their margin of profit.
It said that talks with the government have been dragging on since 2014, and operators are expected to refurbish fuel stations by next year – an expense that can reach half a million euro.
CEO Abigail Mamo told the Times of Malta that in 2011, the GRTU had presented the government with a study carried out by independent auditors about the increase, in cents, in the margin of profit for fuel stations.
The last increase, which was a marginal one, was made nine years ago, she noted.
In a statement on Wednesday, the government said talks had been held between Energy Minister Joe Mizzi and a GRTU delegation.
It pointed out that in 2011 the Resources Authority had allowed a raise in profits from the sale of fuel as long as the station owners covered investments in their stations up to 2020.
The government said it could not accept the GRTU's demand as the price of fuel would rise for consumers beyond the international price.
It said, however, that it had proposed a raise in the profitability margin beyond that decided in 2011 in a way that would not, at the moment, impose a burden on motorists.
No details of either proposal were given, but the government said it remained open for further talks.