By midnight tonight, May 4th, all filling stations must have adopted and adapted to the new law regulating fuel sales and offer low-cost diesel and petrol to their customers at clearly marked pumps.
Additive free fuels have been mandatory in most filling stations since April 17th, but a bedding in period runs until the end of the day to ensure all pumps are marked clearly and the prices are displayed so as not to confuse.
'Simple Gasoline 95' on a green background, or 'simple diesel' on a black background now should be displayed by law.
"Almost all filling stations already are in accordance with the requirements" stated the National Authority for the Fuel Market today and enforcement action will be taken from tomorrow onwards on filling stations that do not comply.
Clear information on which fuel is which must clearly be visible despite the fuel industry remaining opposed to the new law which it sees as anti-competitive and wasteful of the investment its members have made in developing additives to prolong engine life and raise fuel economy levels.
Jorge Moreira da Silva, Portugal’s Minister of the Environment and Energy, said in Parliament last week that motorists could make an annual saving of €200 million at current consumption levels should they switch to low cost fuels, adding that there is absolutely no use in buying fuels with additives as they do not increase economy or prolong engine life.
The Minister’s stance is bolstered by research in 2012 carried out by consumer organisation DECO which contradicts industry claims to the contrary and, if true, would have worldwide implications for the fuel industry and its marketing strategies for fuel with additives.
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