Gas station owners in Samoa have been accused of profiteering from increases in fuel prices as they closed on Sunday, allegedly, in anticipation of price increases the following day, 1st August 2022.
Motorists on Sunday afternoon had tried to get gas but found gas stations closed.
Since Samoa went into Level 1 lockdown in June, gas stations had been allowed to operate normal hours and were open on Sundays.
Samoa Observer reports their sudden closures last Sunday has been condemned by frustrated motorists, who’ve accused owners of “trying to capitalize on a fuel price hike.”
Minister of Finance Mulipola Anarosa Ale-Molio’o, announced in a statement, at 10pm on Sunday evening, that petroleum products would increase the next day.
The retail price for petrol has now increased by 62.49 sene per litre from $3.74 to $4.36; diesel has gone up by 71.05 sene per litre from $3.98 to $4.69; and kerosene has increased by 71.80 sene per litre from $3.52 to $4.24 tala.
Mulipola said that significant increases in overseas June Crude Oil and refined product prices have now impacted Samoa’s local fuel prices.
There has been no official word from the government on the sudden closing of gas stations, this last Sunday.
Before the official announcement from the minister, the new price list of fuel was leaked.
Photo: Samoa Observer
