Czechs Queue for Half an Hour at Petrol Stations Ahead of Fuel Subsidy Cancellation

On Sunday evening, huge queues formed at several ONO petrol stations across Czechia, as drivers rushed to fill up at the old, lower prices before the government's fuel price caps were lifted. At some stations, waiting times stretched to half an hour.

One driver, who regularly fills up at the ONO station in Pilsen, said he had planned to top up his tank before the price hike, but after seeing a queue stretching halfway down the turn lane leading to the station, he turned around and drove off. According to him, this particular station is usually busy even without state price regulation, but on that Sunday evening the situation was especially tense — by half past five in the afternoon, even the small roundabout approach in front of the station was already half full.

A similar scene played out at two stations of the same chain in Prague — in Dolní Měcholupy and Štěrboholy, long lines of waiting cars formed. The queues caused additional trouble on the roads, as cars ended up blocking traffic lanes near the stations.

Meanwhile, stations belonging to other chains, where fuel was slightly more expensive, saw no such rush. For example, MOL and Orlen stations in Pilsen were selling diesel at 42.10 crowns and Natural 95 petrol at 42.90 crowns. By contrast, ONO was offering diesel at 37.50 crowns and Natural 95 petrol at 39.50 crowns, which explains why demand surged specifically at its stations.

Source: novinky.cz