Q8 gave the OK to a 20% reduction in the price of diesel and petrol for workers in the agriculture and fishing sectors. The company declared that it wanted to intervene “in consideration of the current national emergency situation and following the requests of the Meloni government”. This thus engages in two measures: the price cap on petrol and diesel, confirmed until the end of the year, and the price reduction for the food supply chain.
The Minister of Agriculture, Francesco Lollobrigida, commented satisfied with the company’s decision. In a note he writes: “I would like to express my thanks to Q8 for having accepted the Meloni government’s invitation, implementing a concrete support measure for agriculture and fishing.”
Fuel discount: 20% less for the food supply chain
After days of protests and several attempts at conciliation, the Q8 company comes forward to lower the price of diesel and petrol intended for operators in the agricultural and fishing sectors. A company note states that:
in consideration of the current emergency situation, Q8 has decided to listen to the requests of the Italian government and introduce a 20% reduction on the price, net of VAT, of diesel and petrol intended for operators in the agricultural and fishing sectors.
It will therefore be a 20% discount on diesel and petrol which will be applied to direct customers until 31 December 2026.
The decision, explains the company, was taken to offer concrete support to agriculture and fishing, intervening on the energy costs of two sectors at the origin of the food supply chain, essential to guarantee the continuity of supplies and contain the impact on families.
Furthermore, the decision is added to the one already adopted for all motorists with the price cap on petrol and diesel, which Q8 confirms until the end of the year.
As regards the application methods of the measure, Q8 Italia reserves the right to define them taking into account the evolution of the market and the supply conditions. Therefore, the method of accessing the announced discount remains to be defined.
Q8’s decision was welcomed by Francesco Lollobrigida, Minister of Agriculture, with satisfaction. In turn, the minister’s announcement was commented by Cristina Almici, deputy of the Brothers of Italy and member of the Agriculture commission of the Chamber.
This defined the agreement with Q8 as an important signal that adds to the initiatives already announced by other energy operators. The hope expressed by the government representative is that other operators will follow the example of Q8, expanding the savings opportunities for the companies involved.
The criticism of the price cap
While positive comments are arriving on the choice of Q8, on the opposite front Confcommercio and other transport associations denounce how the price cap introduced last September 28th is producing distorting effects on competition.
The issue is that of competition, because the price cap concerns the networks of the companies and not wholesale supplies to independents. According to Assocostieri, sales of independent plants fell by 29%, with losses of around 2,700 euros per month per plant and a devaluation of stocks of around 281 thousand euros. This translates into around 30,000 independent pump jobs at risk.
The president of Conftrasporto declared: “Containing the price of fuel is important for families and businesses, but it cannot be done by passing the costs onto one part of the supply chain.” In fact, the risk is of putting independent distributors out of the market, with consequences on competition and employment.
