GRTU gives ultimatum over €21 million needed for petrol pump upgrades

The Chamber of SMEs (GRTU) had threatened industrial action last week and has now presented the government with an ultimatum asking for an agreement to be reached by the end of the week.

After a meeting with Energy Minister Joe Mizzi earlier today, the GRTU said it would not reveal any details while discussions are ongoing but threatened the government with a general meeting for all its members.

"The GRTU will wait until the end of the week. If a solution is not found by then, it will call for a general meeting for its members,” a GRTU spokesperson said.

The argument involves some €21 million required for the upgrade of petrol pumps. This eight-figure sum was presented by GRTU after a study it conducted in 2014.

The study found that 80 of out 90 petrol stations in Malta and Gozo need to change all their equipment, from the pumps to the piping and underground storage tanks to fall in line with a 2020 EU directive.

GRTU is asking the government for the necessary funds for this to happen and talks with the administration have been going on since 2014.

“The GRTU is disappointed that discussions with government since 2014 have not resulted in any effective decision,” the spokesperson said.

The study conducted in 2014 had been presented to the Environment and Resources Authority in the same year.

GRTU chief executive Abigail Mamo had said at that time that most petrol station owners do not have the necessary funds to upgrade their service and required financial aid from the government or the EU.