Without the new tax, fuel sales are expected to remain roughly unchanged on the year in 2014, Gheorghe told a press conference.
In late 2013, the Romanian government announced plans to levy a EUR0.07 excise tax on liter of fuel as of this year. Following talks with President Traian Basescu, who opposes the measure, the government delayed levying the tax until March 31.
Petrom, Romania’s largest oil and gas group, earlier Wednesday reported a 22% increase in its net profit to a record 4.82 billion lei (EUR1.07 billion) in 2013. However, the company’s sales fell 8% on the year to RON24.2 billion, largely due to lower sales of crude and oil products.