What would the real cost of petrol be without the addition of excise duties? The war between Russia and Ukraine is only one reason for the rise in fuel prices.
Since the outbreak of conflict in Ukraineeven the Italians are dealing with the continuous increase in the tariffs of raw materialsamong which gas e gas. The price of the latter, however, varies from state to state, because it also derives from other circumstances, such as excise and the exchange euro Dollar.
According to one note from the Ministry of Ecological Transitionexcise duties form the 55% of the final price. Contrary to what one might think, this situation is not new, but it actually dates back to the time of the war in Abyssinia.
The real cost of fuels
The data of the Ministry of Ecological Transition they attest that, on Monday 7 March 2022, the price of petrol was 1.95 euros per liter; on this figure, however, 1.08 euros would be paid for the taxation of the Inland Revenue and only 87 cents for the industrial price. Diesel fuel, on the other hand, cost 1.82 euros per liter, of which 94 euros in taxation and only 88 cents of industrial price.
As these numbers underline, it is the taxes those responsible for dizzying costs. And, precisely for this reason, these days gasoline is more expensive than diesel, which, in reality, has a higher market price than gasoline.
If they eliminated taxes, therefore, in Italy the price of fuel would even be the lowest at European level. Specifically, excise duties constitute the 55% of the final amount of gasoline and the 51% than that of diesel.
The consequences of the war in Abyssinia
Consumers are still paying for the consequences of war in Abyssinia. Not everyone is aware of it, but the first increases in the fuel costs derive from the financing of that conflict.
In 1935, in fact, Benito Mussolini instituted an excise duty of 1 lira and 90 cents (corresponding to 2.19 euros today) to support the war in Abyssinia.
Over the years, however, the situation has certainly not improved, as fuel taxation has become the main tool for cope with emergencies. Even following the outbreak of the war in Bosnia in 1995, for example, the price of gasoline jumped to 23.22 lire per liter.
Other examples of rising fuel prices
In addition to the aforementioned war in Abyssinia, increases in petrol excise duties were also recorded to finance the reconstructions following the tragedy of the Vajont in 1963 and ai earthquakes In the Belice of 1968, in Friuli of 1976 and in Irpinia of 1980. In addition, this taxation tool was used for sending humanitarian aid in Lebanonto face the crisis of the Suez Canal and to bear the damages of the floods Of Florence e Venezia in 1966.
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