Since Saturday, October 10, favorable terms on fuel from the refinery Saras in Sarroch can also reach independent fuel stations in Sardinia. The initiative, in effect until October 31, aims to enable operators who source fuel through the refinery to offer competitive prices compared with those of the major companies.
There are around 675 fuel stations on the island, about a hundred of which are independent or part of smaller local networks. These stations, often found in smaller towns and along major roads, cannot rely on the commercial strategies of large groups and may have less room to respond quickly to rising fuel costs.
A ministerial overview of the self-service stations monitored in Sardinia placed around 110 stations in the “white pumps and other companies” category, out of just over 600 retail outlets. This estimate does not necessarily match the number of all independent stations currently operating, but it gives an indication of their presence in the regional network.
Saras’s measure adds to those already introduced by Eni-Enilive, IP, Q8 and Tamoil, which use different approaches. At stations participating in the Enilive network, for example, a cap of €1.99 per litre for petrol and €2.19 for diesel has been set: details here on the Enilive price cap.
The refinery’s measure does not, however, set a mandatory maximum price at the pump or a fixed discount per litre. The terms for products supplied to independent operators are intended to allow them to come closer to the offers of major operators, but the actual price depends on supply arrangements and the decisions of individual stations. Not all independent stations are therefore automatically included, and prices may vary from one station to another.
At the end of September, some surveys found that average prices at white pumps were higher than those at branded networks, with differences of several cents per litre. Extending the favorable terms to independent operators could broaden the range of stations benefiting from lower prices. Local competition could also prompt stations not directly involved to adjust their prices to avoid losing customers.
The favorable terms also apply to partners supplying heavy road haulage, agriculture and fishing, sectors in which fuel accounts for a significant share of operating costs. For motorists, the practical point of reference remains the price displayed at each individual station: the initiative does not standardize prices, but expands the opportunities for some of the independent network to compete with major brands until the October 31 deadline.