Romania sees sharp rise in fuel and motor‑oil costs as Iran‑US clash fuels oil surge

Former Energy Minister Bogdan Ivan warned that Romania’s strategic petroleum stocks – about 2 million barrels, enough for roughly four months – may be insufficient if the oil shock from the Iran‑US conflict continues. He questioned the parliament’s reluctance to reinstate a diesel price cap, arguing that without limiting commercial margins and export volumes, diesel prices have already risen by about 50 bani per litre, adding roughly 20 % to pump prices.

The same conflict has also pushed motor‑oil prices up 50‑70 % in Romania, sharply increasing the cost of routine vehicle maintenance. Service stations report higher wholesale oil costs, which are being passed on to customers. Ivan called for national measures such as a temporary excise on excess profits and accelerated development of domestic gas projects like Neptun Deep, which is expected to start production in 2027 and could reduce import reliance by up to €800 million annually.