Plenković announced intervention in fuel prices if necessary due to price increases

Prime Minister Andrej Plenković announced that the Government will intervene in excise duties or margins if necessary due to the announced significant increase in fuel prices starting next Tuesday, Hina reports.

Portals on Thursday report that from next week, the prices of all diesel fuels will increase by 90 lipa per liter, and gasoline by about 70 lipa per liter.

– We have legal grounds, i.e., a regulation, and we have already intervened in margins and excise duties. There is still room in this regard, and this afternoon we will discuss the situation at the narrower cabinet of the government. We will hear the estimates from the ministries of economy and finance and make decisions that are best for Croatian citizens – said the Prime Minister.

When asked whether excise duties are on the menu, he said that excise duties and margins are two elements in which the government can intervene.

At most gas stations in Croatia, a liter of regular gasoline eurosuper 95 will be sold for 13.86 kuna starting Tuesday, which is three lipa more than on Monday when it was 13.83 kuna, while a liter of regular eurodiesel is more expensive by 22 lipa.

A source from energy circles estimates that fuel price increases, even larger ones, are possible as long as the energy crisis caused by the war in Ukraine lasts. However, he adds that the increases announced for next week are difficult to justify by the application of the latest EU sanctions package against Russia, as its effects, i.e., the partial interruption of crude oil imports from Russia, are expected only in a few months.

Why traders and suppliers react so quickly to announcements of what could happen should be asked of them, he says. He adds that Croatia does not actually depend on the supply of crude oil or derivatives from Russia, as the majority of supply is secured by sea.

Traders and suppliers we contacted did not want to comment on prices, so the new prices will typically be known at midnight from Monday to Tuesday.