Fuel prices slashed for local motorists

FILLING stations across Tyrone are selling fuel at the cheapest price in years.

Molloy Fuels in Dungannon was selling petrol at 99.5p on Thursday, while other major supermarkets also slashed their prices.

The price drop comes amid the coronavirus lockdown which has resulted in people across the North been told to stay at home except in exceptional circumstances.

Filling stations are allowed to stay open as they are deemed an essential business, however the number of motorists travelling on the roads has dramatically decreased.

Many in Tyrone have been busy due to the price drop and the manager at Dolan’s Mace in Omagh said, “This is the lowest I ever remember the price of fuel being. I am working here over ten years and I haven’t seem them this low.

“If people have any spare pennies, they are filling a drum and keeping it at the house for when they they are able to get out and about again.
“Even the price of heating oil – it is as cheap to buy it from the pump as it is to buy from a delivery company.”

Meanwhile, The Petrol Retailers Association has warned that many petrol stations will have to close in the coming weeks, as sales of fuel dry up and their businesses become unviable.

While the cost of fuel is dropping for consumers, many retailers bought their supplies days or weeks ago, meaning they paid far more than current prices and are set to lose out on revenue.

Brian Madderson, chairman of the Petrol Retailers Association (PRA) said, “To help freight move and help key workers travel safely and independently through this period of crisis, petrol filling stations (PFS) must remain open, but this is proving to be a challenge for many filling stations,”

“Fuel retailers are having to maintain pump prices at previous levels to avoid suffering significant stock losses.

“When the Covid-19 restrictions are lifted and high sales volumes return, then we expect to see reductions in retail fuel prices.”