Alternatives to high fuel prices
High fuel prices determine Romanian drivers to get gas or diesel refill in the neighboring countries, where fuel is less expensive.
Articol de Răzvan Stancu, 15 Martie 2011, 10:02
Because of increased fuel prices at the pump, Romanian drivers tend to refill their vehicles’ fuel tanks in the neighboring countries, especially in Ukraine, where there are lower fuel prices.
According to Radio România correspondent Adrian Marchiş, there has been an increase in the number of Romanian drivers who cross the Ukraine border at Sighetu Marmaţiei – Solotvino crossing point, in order to get gas or diesel refill in Ukraine.
Most of the times, many hours are spent waiting for border crossing due to the large number of cars or to the overzealous border police in Sighet.
Radio România correspondent Ştefan Daraban reported that, in the past 24 hours, the traffic at the border crossing points between Romania and Republic of Moldova is not higher than the one registered at the same period last month.
Border police and customs workers consider that the flow of traffic is within normal rates, as warm weather encourages drivers.
The Radio România correspondent also informed that car owners are not highly interested in supplying fuel from neighboring countries, even though custom rules allow crossing the border with a full tank of gas and an extra 10 litre gas can.
Similar fuel prices in Serbia and Bulgaria
On the other hand, Romanians avoid high fuel prices in Serbia, Mihai Bădescu stated.
The price of fuel in Romania is the same as in Serbia.
Serbia registered a fuel price increase similar to the one in Romania.
Between the two countries, there is a fuel price difference of only up to 10 or 20 Romanian bani, with the lower price in Serbia.
The insignificant price difference lacks in attracting Romanian drivers. Customs workers say that fuel is better quality in Romania, which determines Serbian drivers to get fuel refills in Romania, Radio România correspondent also stated.
As fuel prices in Bulgaria are similar to the ones in Romania, there have not been registered cases of border crossing exclusively to get fuel refills, Radio România correspondent Emil Talianu informs.
Diesel prices in Bulgaria are about the same as in Romania.
Translated by: Mihaela Grigoraş
MA Student, MTTLC, Bucharest University
