A DECISION by oil companies to open their own private outlets and open them during the summer holidays where other stations traditionally close down, was yesterday at the centre of discussions at the House Commerce Committee.
Speaking after the meeting, DIKO deputy Angelos Votsis said it was imperative that Parliament and the state prevented a possible crisis in the fuel sector; “a crisis that the consumer will end up paying for”.
“We believe that weakening petrol station owners and transferring the largest section of the pie to oil importers will be at the expense of the consumer,” said Votsis. “As such, we have asked the oil importers to reconsider their policy and engage in dialogues, with mutual respect towards petrol station owners, so we can find a solution.”
Votsis praised Dinos Lefkaritis, the Executive Financial Advisor of Petrolina, who announced the company would not be following in the steps of other companies and opening new stations.
Regarding the summer holidays, the DIKO deputy called on all oil companies to “show goodwill and co-ordinate among themselves and with petrol station owners, so that they can agree on which stations will open and close over the summer holidays.”
Votsis added that under no circumstances would he allow private petrol station owners to go extinct, leaving the management of oil to four companies, which will not only import and manage the oil, but also sell it on. “If this needs to be controlled legally, then DIKO will move ahead and propose it.”
Maria Kyriacou of DISY added that petrol stations and oil importers were partners in the market and they should operate as such, in a way that benefits them but also the consumer, who is their third partner in the market.
It became clear through the discussion, she added, that only through intensive dialogues will a solution been found for the smooth operation of the market.
Regarding the summer opening hours, Kyriacou said it was up to the companies and stations to find the best solution, in a way that would not cause consumers any unnecessary hassle. “This is also the Commerce Ministry’s aim, which we see as a positive thing.”
DISY’s main objective is the protection of free competition, she added.
The Head of the Petrol Stations Association, Pambinos Charalambous, pointed out that some oil companies had already started building private stations, “which leaves petrol station owners in a very difficult situation”.
Petrol station operators recently threatened a 24-hour strike followed by a longer strike if companies open their own stations. Fuel companies refused to back down, citing free competition that they claim could not prevent them from opening their own outlets.
Charalambous yesterday pointed out, “Our decision was not made to punish the consuming public but so we could survive”.
He said his association had already submitted a plea to the Committee for the Protection of Competition, as “our greatest fear is that, if companies slowly start building a large number of stations, then the rest of us are in danger of closing down”.
Petrolina’s Dinos Lefkaritis confirmed his company would not be opening its own stations. “Petrolina does not have private stations, except for three that have been established for years now in each town,” said Lefkaritis.
