Fuel prices at gas stations in Republika Srpska entity, according to distributors’ announcements, will be lower by up to 20 pfennigs per liter in the coming days. Citizens believe that prices are still unrealistically high, while experts point out that autumn and winter will again be turbulent when it comes to oil. At the same time, with the work of inspectors in the field, a certain number of irregularities at the pumps were again determined.
At several gas stations in Banja Luka, the prices are completely different. However, the margin is limited for everyone and it is 25 pfennigs per liter. For now, the prices are in a slight decline and according to the announcements of the distributor, the price will be lower by up to 20 pfennigs per liter in the coming days.
Citizens say that, although the prices are slightly lower, it is not enough.
A few months ago, the owners of gas stations in the RS were fined around one and a half million marks for irregularities in the sale of oil and oil derivatives. They requested a court ruling, considering that they had no irregularities. Today, we have information from the inspectorate that a certain number of irregularities were recorded at gas stations in the previous days as well.
“Until July 14, 2022, inspectors performed 174 controls and irregularities were found in 108 cases. 216 misdemeanor orders were issued,” according to the RS Inspectorate.
Although prices are in a slight decline, experts believe that the extension of Serbia’s decision to ban oil exports is not good for BiH, because a significant part of the market is covered by oil from the Pancevo refinery.
“It is not good. Almost 30 percent of the market in Bosnia and Herzegovina is supplied from the refinery in Pancevo. So, we will see, but we are primarily referring to diesel, which is the most represented and imported from Pancevo. Hungary has also introduced a ban,” says Almir Becarevic, energy expert.
Limiting oil exports is just one indication that prices will rise.
“I think prices will continue to rise, regardless of some global trends in barrels, not only oil but also all energy products, and then the prices and everything else that is connected to energy products,” points out Miso Mudric from the University of Zagreb.
The projections, according to experts, despite the current slight price drop of several pfennigs, are not good. This especially applies to the upcoming autumn and winter.
