By rbj
On Wednesday afternoon, the gas stations in western Romania caused a real tsunami on the fuel market at the retail stations of the companies that deliver gasoline and diesel on the Romanian territory. It all started with a MOL station in the city of Beius, on the border with Hungary, where the liter of gasoline and diesel increased, like a signal from heaven, by 1 to 3 lei, thus reaching 10 to 12 lei per liter. That is more than 2 euros/liter.
The news spread through social media throughout the country, so that, on Wednesday evening, on the entire territory of Romania, queues of many kilometers were formed at the entrance to the supply of the buyers.
The situation was quickly analyzed by the authorities who tried to calm the population, adding that Romania has enough quantities for the non-stop supply of those who need fuel. Not as in Hungary, where for several days, the authorities have capped both quantities and fuel prices.
Romania’s PM Nicolae Ciucă met, on Thursday morning, the main people in charge in the field of supply and control on the fuel oil market.
“The Romanian state has an obligation to protect its citizens, to protect the economy, especially in this complicated period caused by the Russian military invasion of Ukraine. I will not allow anyone to take advantage of this situation so that out of greed or any other reason It seeks to destabilize the country’s economy and the lives of its citizens.
On Thursday morning, in Bucharest, the fuels were sold at prices between 7.43 and 9.59 lei in the Capital, after the gas stations were assaulted by drivers on Wednesday evening, scared that the price of fuels will exceed 10-12 lei per liter tonight, as it was circulated in the public space.
The Minister of Energy had several posts on Facebook on Wednesday evening, urging the Romanians to calm down, saying that there are enough stocks and the prices have no reason to increase.
All indications lead to a directed action by the Hungarian group MOL, which has problems both in providing the raw material (crude oil) and with the supply of the distribution units where it is accredited.
Hungarytoday.hu announces today, 10.03.2022, that the distribution units of MOL Hungary “could have problems in the long weekend due to the interruption of the fuel supply. However, it seems that problems have already arisen: there are a growing number of petrol stations where there is no fuel, while others have closed. Meanwhile, prices are rising again, with petrol at 640 forints and diesel at 717 forints on Friday, if the price limit of 480 forints had not been in force ”..
Another online publication, telex.hu, reports that on Tuesday and Wednesday, several private gas stations, mostly smaller, were forced to shut down or significantly reduce the amount of fuel they release due to supply problems. In some stations, only five liters of fuel could be delivered “, while others do not have fuel until March 24.
Many of the open stations have long queues due to lack of supply. In the west and north of the country, people coming from Austria and Slovakia to fill up are also making the situation worse.
This is not the first time that Hungary, through the authorities or companies, is trying to destabilize economic and social activity in Romania.
Simulated fuel crisis in Romania. PM of Romania: “I will not allow anyone to take advantage… to try to destabilize the country’s economy and the lives of its citizens”. Did the Hungarian MOL group incite?
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