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Date Published: 10/05/2022
ARCHIVED - Majority of service stations in Murcia still waiting for government aid following fuel discount
It’s estimated that filling stations in the Murcia Region are now owed between 40 and 45 million euros
Around 70% of filling stations across the Region of Murcia are still waiting for funds from the central government to make up for the 20 cent per litre discount on fuel they have been offering to customers since April 1. In the days before the bonus scheme came into effect, business owners were promised a prompt payment, but the employers’ association estimates that the Ministry of Finance now owes somewhere in the region of 40 or 45 million euros to Murcian petrol stations.
The president of the association in the Region pointed out that filling stations in Alicante have already been compensated and warned that countless companies will go under if they do not receive the promised funds soon.
The Ministry introduced the measure last month to ease the burden of rising fuel prices, which have exceeded 2 euros per litre in many areas, and to end the strike of transport carriers across Spain; however, in recent days, the government has threatened not to extend the bonus scheme beyond July if operators continue to absorb the aid.
The president of the Association of Service Stations, meanwhile, believes that “this has gotten out of hand for the Government” and maintains that in neighbouring countries where fuel price reductions are being applied, the experience has not been so negative as their leaders took more time to set up the system correctly.
Service stations in Murcia have reportedly not received any aid locally either, despite the fact that the regional government approved a line of guarantees amounting to 8 million euros for these companies.
Given the crisis situation facing smaller businesses in particular, the employer has not been able to rule out protests or strikes in the near future if the government fails to come up with the money.
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