Conpet state company, oil pipeline operator for crude oil transportation, could increase the fee by a 1.41% rate for services regarding domestic oil. In other words, oil producers who conclude contracts for oil transport by pipeline will pay a cumulative 3.6 million RON more this year than in 2015, despite a lower production, decreasing of trading prices, and aggressive taxation.

“I think we should be more attentive to the fact that we have this decrease in production and an increase in tariff (for oil transportation – e.n). Any increase of costs or taxation can affect an entire economic chain,” said for Digi 24, Daniel Apostol, Secretary General for ROPEPCA petroleum association.

Year on year, the amount of oil transported by Conpet declines, a trend exacerbated by the general climate of the global hydrocarbon sector, which also affects Romania. Last year, only 4 million tons of oil were transported in this way, and this year the amount will not exceed 3.7 million tons.

Any increase of rates and charges involves, naturally, a translation in the final pump price. From the price of a liter of gasoline the state collects 58% from taxes and duties. The production drop by almost 10% over the previous year and growing fee rates are two worrying developments for operators in this sector.