Gas stations on the Greek island of Lesbos will close indefinitely from tomorrow due to the government-imposed cap on the commercial markup on fuels as a measure to combat the consequences of the sharp increase in oil prices due to the war in Iran, ANA-MPA reported, BTA reported.
The decision to suspend work was taken at a general meeting of the Union of Gas Station Owners of Lesbos.
Fuel retailers say they have “exhausted all scope for profitability“ and are against “the imposition of an illogical and miscalculated limit exclusively on the profits of petrol stations“.
They complain that the measure does not affect the refineries of petroleum products, “which bear the decisive responsibility for the sharp increases in fuel prices since the beginning of the war“.
The owners of petrol stations on the island are demanding that the ceiling of the commercial surcharge be increased for the islands in the northern Aegean from 12 euro cents (including VAT) to 20 euro cents. As an alternative solution, they propose that the maximum profit be set at the level it was on 27 February 2026, i.e. one day before the war began.
The Greek government introduced restrictions on commercial profits on fuel and essential goods as a measure to combat price increases due to the crisis in the Middle East and the associated disruptions in world markets.