On Monday, September 28, queues formed outside some Enilive fuel stations in Sassari, where the fuel price cap announced by Eni came into effect. Motorists queued to refuel at the maximum price set for self-service, which was lower than the regional averages.
One of the queues was photographed on Via Budapest. Cars waiting in line were reported in the city as the new prices appeared on the boards at service stations. The measure applies to the Enilive network and sets a maximum limit: it does not mean that every station or refuelling option charges the same price.
The cap took effect on September 28. The maximum self-service price is €1.99 per litre for petrol and €2.19 for diesel. The initiative was initially announced for 30 days, with the possibility of continuing until the end of the year depending on market conditions and supply. Details of the cap are summarised in the article on Eni prices and fuel.
A comparison with the regional averages cited for the same day gives an indication of the potential savings for those who find the capped price at the pump:
- Petrol: capped at €1.99 per litre, compared with a Sardinian average of €2.165; the difference is 17.5 cents per litre, or €8.75 on 50 litres.
- Diesel: capped at €2.19 per litre, compared with an average of €2.396; the difference is 20.6 cents per litre, amounting to €10.30 on 50 litres.
- The calculations compare the Enilive cap with regional averages: actual savings depend on the price charged by each individual station.
The reported Sardinian averages were slightly lower than the previous day's figures: petrol fell from €2.168 to €2.165 per litre, and diesel from €2.398 to €2.396. The gap between the cap and the averages therefore does not amount to a general price reduction across the island: it is the saving available to those who can refuel under the conditions set by Eni.
In Sardinia, the Eni and Enilive network has 136 stations out of a total of 675 service stations. Its relatively limited reach helps explain why the announcement of the cap attracted motorists without immediately having a significant impact on regional averages. IP has also announced its own price initiative, with arrangements distinct from those announced by Eni.
For anyone needing to refuel, the practical points to check are therefore the self-service option and the price displayed at the individual station: the announced caps are €1.99 for petrol and €2.19 for diesel. The cap came into effect on September 28 and was initially set to last 30 days.