High fuel prices: the Government is in talks with Q8 for further discounts, following similar deals with Eni and IP. Here’s how much you could save

According to well-informed sources consulted by AdnKronos, all eyes are on the behaviour of other major operators. For example, Esso (already part of the IP Group controlled by the Azerbaijani company SOCAR), which will almost certainly proceed with the cut.

The number of retailers could also increase, given that Palazzo Chigi – according to a statement – is exploring at a diplomatic level whether the Kuwaiti group that controls Q8 in Italia is willing to follow the same approach adopted by Eni and Socar to set a cap on fuel prices at the pump. This is reported by sources at Palazzo Chigi, who explain that positive signals are coming from Kuwait in this regard. The same sources note that Q8’s potential participation would send a further signal of concern for Italian households.

An average saving of 9.35 euros on a full tank of diesel and 8.45 euros on a full tank of petrol. This is the benefit of the fuel price cap introduced by Eni (a maximum limit of 2.19 euros per litre for diesel and 1.99 euros per litre for petrol), which, from today, will be felt in the pockets of motorists who choose to fill up at the ‘Six-Legged Dog’ petrol stations.

Adusbef has carried out the initial calculations, based on the average fuel prices reported by Mimit.

Across the standard retail network, Eni’s initiative will mean that a litre of petrol will cost 16.9 euro cents less than today’s list prices, equating to a saving of 8.45 euros per full tank, explains Adusbef.

For diesel, Eni’s fixed price will result in a saving of 18.7 euro cents per litre, equivalent to a reduction of 9.35 euros when filling up.

When calculating the expenditure of a household with two cars, the savings could amount to as much as 17.80 euros a week – that is, approximately 80 euros a month – according to estimates by the Unimpresa Research Centre, which also extends its calculations to small businesses that use vans and light commercial vehicles: for them, the savings range from 12 to 37 euros per week per vehicle, excluding VAT, i.e. from 50 to 160 euros a month; for a fleet of ten vans, the benefit amounts to 245 euros a week and over 3,300 euros by the end of the year.

The savings will obviously be greater in those parts of Italia where average pump prices are higher than the national average, notes Adusbef: for example, in Bolzano, where diesel currently costs 2.428 euros per litre, the saving on a full tank of diesel will be almost 12 euros (11.9 euros to be precise), and 10.5 euros on a full tank of petrol.

Next come the Aosta Valley , which currently has an average diesel price of 2.404 euros per litre and where the average cost of a full tank will be 10.7 euros; and Friuli, at -€10.5 (the average price of diesel is €2.4 per litre).

As for petrol, however, the biggest savings – apart from in Bolzano – will be in Friuli Venezia Giulia and Calabria, averaging -9.6 euros per full tank.

The situation “remains very critical, however”, warns the Research Department of the CGIA in Mestre (Venice), whilst welcoming Eni’s price cut “with satisfaction”. Compared with 27 February, the day before the outbreak of the war between the US and Iran, the Venetian tradespeople note that “anyone filling up at Eni petrol stations in the coming days will still be paying 19.2 per cent more for petrol and 27.3 per cent more for diesel”.