The measure to introduce the marking procedure for liquid fuels of petroleum origin does not in any way represent a burden for citizens, but is aimed at strengthening the financial stability of the state and combating the shadow economy, announced the relevant minister, Admir Šahmanović.
"The goal of this measure is clear - to suppress illegal trade in petroleum products, strengthen control over fuel trade, and ensure more efficient collection of budget revenues through better collection of excise duties," said Šahmanović, who is the Minister of Mining, Oil and Gas.
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Amendments to the Energy Law Proposal envisage the introduction of a marking procedure for liquid fuels of petroleum origin, using a substance based on nanotechnology.
"Marking contributes to consumer protection, as it ensures that only derivatives of verified origin and quality are on the market. This substance does not affect the quality of the fuel, but it allows for precise identification of its origin during control," said Šahmanović.
He stated that we are witnessing media allegations and pressures related to this process, attempts to unprofessionally present completely blanket data to the public, without any real basis, based on inaccurate information and unconfirmed lay assessments, even, as he said, very subjective and biased by journalists.
"It is also concerning that despite good cooperation with the media and a high level of transparency, the Ministry has not received a single inquiry regarding this topic, which I consider necessary if we want to inform the public accurately and in a timely manner," said Šahmanović.
He stated that an example of incorrect information to the public is the claims about the costs of fuel marking that have appeared in the public, which have no real basis.
"The allegations of amounts of seven to ten million euros per year, or two to 2,5 cents per liter, are not correct. For comparison - the price of the marking service in Serbia is about a third of a cent per liter, and there is no reason to expect significantly higher costs in Montenegro, although certain technical challenges exist, especially due to the structure of fuel supply by road transport," said Šahmanović.
He stated that the costs of marking will not be borne by citizens, but by oil companies, while the Government will make the decision on the maximum price of the service solely based on a detailed analysis of cost elements, with full transparency.
"I would like to remind you that this measure is clearly foreseen in the Fiscal Strategy of Montenegro for the period from last year to 2027, as one of the key means for improving tax discipline. The estimated annual effect is 14 million euros, while in a conservative medium-term framework, the planned revenue is five million euros per year," Šahmanović specified.
According to him, fuel labeling is not new - it is a proven practice already applied by many countries, including those in the region.
"Examples from Serbia, where the system was introduced in 2014, show clear effects, where in 2014 the growth in excise revenue was 13,2 percent compared to the previous year, in 2015 it was 4,8 percent, and in 2016 it was 13 percent," added Šahmanović.
He said that this measure had already been the subject of public debate during the preparation of previous amendments to the Energy Law, planned for 2022. At that time, provisions relating to fuel labeling were also proposed for the first time.
The Ministry of Mining, together with the Ministry of Finance, as he stated, is implementing this process carefully, professionally and in accordance with best international practices, taking into account all relevant stakeholders.
"Finally, I would like to say once again - this Government and the department I head will not give up on measures that introduce order, strengthen the system and reduce the space for the shadow economy. The fight for a legal, regulated and responsible market is our priority - despite some coordinated attempts to mislead the public," concluded Šahmanović.
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