The introduction of fuel without additives at Portugal’s filling stations has enabled drivers to save €168 million since April this year, according to the National Authority for the Fuel Market.
Filipe Meirinho, director of the Authority, reported savings of €168 million for the seven months since the scheme started, which is ahead of the government target of €200 million in annual savings.
The average price difference between cheap additive-free fuel and the old ‘sem chumbo 95’ has been around 3 cents per litre, accompanied unsurprisingly by a drop in sales of fuel with additives.
The National Authority for the Fuel Market hosted a conference, "The Fuel Market in Portugal" in Lisbon at the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation which is funded by oil company Partex based in the Cayman Islands for tax purposes.
The president of the Authority, Paulo Carmona stressed that "the consumer has benefitted from this commercial aggressiveness and the increase in supply."
‘Simple fuel’ which started to be sold on April 17th has to be stocked at all Portugal’s filling stations. 'Simple Gasolina 95' on a green background, or 'Gasoleo Simple' on a black background now should be displayed by law.
Jorge Moreira da Silva, Portugal’s Minister of the Environment and Energy, said to parliament 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 backed up 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.
According to the Saturday Telegraph's motoring expert, Honest John, in response to a reader's question about ruined fuel injectors in a Ford C-Max 1.6 TDCi which Ford blamed on cheap fuel, "Modern cars are certificated on the best fuel available. Fill them with anything less and they won't run as well."
