Why has there always to be a clash whenever petrol station owners put in a claim for a rise in their profit margin? There is usually little public sympathy for petrol station owners over their claims but if they are correct in their argument that the government has been dragging its feet since 2014, it would surely seem they are justified in reacting strongly, unless, of course, there is another facet to the story that is so far unknown to the public.

Leaving aside the issue as to whether or not the retail price of petrol ought to be lower than the present rate, a long-standing matter that ought to be settled once and for all, and, also, the absurdity of allowing the building of stations in outside development zones, it is difficult to understand why the government is taking so long to deal with the petrol stations owners’ claim.

According to the owners’ union, a study by independent auditors substantiating their claim had been submitted to the government in 2014. The last time the owners had a rise in their profit margin was nine years ago and that would seem to justify their claim. Irritated by the delay in reaching an agreement, the owners are now threatening to strike if the government does not come around to meeting their claim.

By 2020, petrol station owners are required to carry out substantial refurbishment at their stations and this is obviously putting added financial pressures on them. Their spokesman put it this way: “Time is passing by and the government appears to be in no rush to settle things while requirements by the Environment and Resources Authority and the Regulator for Energy and Water Services continue to increase, with 2020 knocking on our door.”

The issue comes in the wake of an apparent increasing official interest in efforts aimed at encouraging greater use of electric cars in order to reduce CO2 emissions. The electric car has so far made very little impact on local roads, with electric and hybrid vehicles still accounting for less than 0.5 per cent of vehicles. This means there are only 1,426 of them on the road.

At the launch of the State of the Environment report last November, Environment Minister Josè Herrera told this newspaper a switch to electric or alternative energy vehicles was the only way forward for Malta to improve its air quality and meet its emission-reduction targets. He had also said that a ban on the sale of diesel and petrol cars could come into effect much closer than 2040.

The minister has set up a committee to draft a consultation document on the cut-off date and to carry out consultations with policymakers and stakeholders.

With a rise in population and a greater inflow of foreign workers, there are today far more cars on the road than ever before, chocking not just the major transport arteries but also inner urban areas. Not to say anything about pollution.

Since it will take time before the electric car takes over on Maltese roads, petrol station owners are not likely be driven out of business any time soon. But even if that were the case, the government should not drag its feet in discussing pending claims and come to a just agreement.

This is a Times of Malta print editorial

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