Rome, 3 October 2021 – Il price of the methane for cars is skyrocketing. But it can go up again? And especially, how long will it last the situation today, with a full tank that can cost twice because the natural gas at the distributor reaches – in some areas even exceeds – the two euros per kilo? We asked Federmetano, the association that brings together more than one hundred operators in the sector – there are 1,500 distributors in Italy – and to the coordinator cem (Methane energy consortium) Andrea Serena. In short, the man who deals “with obtaining the best market conditions for our members, who number 54”. Obviously he’s going through a bad moment. He admits: “We are the first to be blown away.”
“Winter without gas, it will be very hard”
Will the price go up again?
“Every company does its accounts – Serena said -. But I think it is wrong to sell methane for cars to a higher price than gasoline, as is already happening. Because the motorist, with the bifuel function, will discard the methane and the distributor risks not selling a kilo anymore. In certain areas, for example in Tuscany, the price has even reached 2,2 euro. For me this is a serious mistake. I don’t think it can far exceed today’s quotes. But there remains a margin of uncertainty. Because if the international market still grows … In that case, they would have big problems too the families. Because the methane that reaches us is the same “.
Skyrocketing prices, for how long?
Federmetano’s forecast is bleak. With today’s data, “it is conceivable a improvement gives April 2022 -. In any case, we will continue to pursue our requests with the institutions, for example the request of the5% VAT“In short, it could be a question of months, more than days or weeks.
“Methane natural gas, like any commodity (iron, copper and other) – reasons the Cem coordinator – is undergoing international restructuring. Today we buy it at one euro per cubic meter, the normal price would be 25 cents. That has always been the case. the average, in the last twenty years. But even if it goes back to 40, operators could restore the prices of the past. We are beyond all logic, I hope they are speculations that they can come back. In July 2008, when oil reached the record of $ 150 a barrel, methane for cars was bought at 40 cents. Now oil is at 70. Gas, I don’t know why, has reached one euro. We are all shocked “.
The bang of October 1st
But why just friday prices have skyrocketed? “Because that day begins the thermal year, I call it ‘gas New Year’, traditionally it is the time when contracts are signed “, he clarifies Gabriele Masini, Director of ‘Daily relay’, newspaper specialized in the sector. And he doesn’t think the increase will stop there. He starts from a ‘clue’, “supply contracts are often also annual. So they do not immediately reflect the increase in international prices”. This is why we are entitled to think that the abnormal prices of these days “will last a long time. How far can we get? This is the question of the questions. But that’s not all”.
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