GFI, the company that has the concession for marking fuels has suddenly
interrupted their activity, causing a crisis in the market.
Their conflict with the government is a monopoly given to them by the Albanian government in 2011. Besides processed oil, they also had the right to mark crude oil, an unprecedented practice. This took place for another reason too. The marking substance does not work with the crude oil.
Official data show that the crude oil that would be exported, would guarantee the concessionary 10 million more EUR in a year. Since they cannot do this technologically, the marking concessionary has been unable to collect money from crude oil.
Facing this situation, the concessionary company decided to interrupt the activity and ask this money from the government, with huge effects for the market.
The Council of Ministers has sanctioned that no fuel should get out of the customs without making the marking payment. Since the company is not working anymore, the merchants who import fuel will not be able to take oil out of customs, creating an unprecedented crisis in the market.
Sources from customs and fuel merchants say for Top Channel this stalemate can be resolved only if the government changes the verdict that does not allow fuels to leave without paying the marking, or reach an agreement with the concessionary.
The paralyzed market shows once again how suspicious concessions might create huge damage for consumers and the national economy.
Top Channel
