Italians could say goodbye to cutting excise duties on fuel. The discount on the price at the distributor, introduced by the Meloni government as an urgent measure to counter the energy crisis linked to the war in the Middle East, may not be renewed after 6 June 2026.
The extension currently in force expires in a few days and, for the first time since the beginning of the energy emergency, signals are coming from the executive that do not exclude the end of the intervention on petrol and diesel. At the moment no official decision has yet been issued, but the Minister of the Environment Gilberto Pichetto Fratin explained that no other similar measure has been envisaged.
Excise duty cut expiring on June 6th, what happens then
Pichetto Fratin therefore left open the hypothesis that excise duties on fuel could return to ordinary levels. The latest extension of the measure was approved by the Council of Ministers on May 22nd to avoid the hauliers’ strike and contain the effects of the high cost of fuel.
The decree extended the discounts until June 6, 2026, but with a difference compared to previous renewals. The benefit on diesel was reduced, while that on petrol remained unchanged. The following are therefore currently in force:
- a discount of around 5 euro cents per liter on petrol;
- a discount of around 10 euro cents per liter on diesel.
For diesel, this is a cut halved compared to previous weeks, when the reduction had reached up to 20 euro cents per litre.
Extension not a given, what Minister Pichetto Fratin said
The main constraint for the Meloni government on the issue is linked to public finances. As stated by Minister Pichetto Fratin, previous interventions on fuel excise duties have produced a very high cost for the state coffers and a new extension decree would not be expected today. The measures adopted so far have been financed through:
- extra VAT revenue;
- proceeds from Antitrust sanctions;
- other extraordinary coverages.
With the continuation of international tensions and energy price increases, the overall cost of the state operation has become increasingly burdensome to bear. Despite the cautious words of the Minister of the Environment, the picture is not yet closed. In fact, more cautious tones are coming from the Ministry of Economy.
Deputy Minister Maurizio Leo explained that the government will continue to evaluate possible interventions to support families and businesses, without excluding new measures if market conditions make it necessary. The final decision will be made official very soon, close to the deadline of 6 June.
How much petrol and diesel would increase without the discount
If the government decided not to intervene with a new cut, excise duties on fuel would therefore return to ordinary levels from 7 June. The effect on distributors would be immediate and, based on data and forecasts, prices could theoretically rise according to the following scheme:
- petrol would increase by around 5 euro cents per litre, in addition to VAT;
- diesel would increase by around 10 euro cents per litre, in addition to VAT.
Translated: for an average 50 liter tank, the cost would become around 2.5 euros for a petrol car and around 5 euros for a diesel car. Naturally, the final price will also depend on the trend in international prices of oil and refined products.
