Government crews are carrying out inspections to avert illicit profiteering following repeated and unjustifiable rises in fuel prices in the last days.

Pan-Hellenic Federation of Gas Station Owners has threatened to begin mobilizations, underlining that the Federation has repeatedly called for a meeting with Finance Minister G. Papakonstantinou in the last weeks but has been never set.

"Exorbitant fuel prices show that speculators robbing people are the big business cartels controlling import, refinery and wholesale of fuel as well as the government's taxation attack" says GCP announcement.

Mixed crews comprised of experts from three ministries ( Finance, Energy and Economics) started inspections early on Tuesday. They take samples to check fuel adulteration at the mobile KEDAK labs.

Unjustifiable rises in fuel prices have been recorded recently. Fuel in some petrol stations went up over 12 cents although increase in special tax justified up to 8 cents rise per liter. A 2% rise in VAT as of March, 15 may lead to new illicit profiteering with a further 5 cents rise.

According to Price Observatory range of fuel price in Athens and Thessaloniki is as follows:

Αthens Unleaded 95+: 1,227 - 1,507 Unleaded 100: 1,329-1,749

Regional Highest price Unleaded 95+: Αmorgos : 1,582 Highest Unleaded 100 : Rethymno : 1,759

There is no question so far about imposition of ceiling on fuel prices as inspections continue and will give a clear picture of the fuel market.

Gas-station owners are planning a strike on March, 18 in protest against use of cash registers unless two terms are met .

They maintain that cash registers should be used in connection with a system reading inflow and outflow of fuel in their tanks. Federation of gas station owners will hold a meeting on March, 21 to decided on their further mobilizations.