Record-low crude oil prices worldwide are currently being driven primarily by two factors. The first is the coronavirus’s negative impact on the global economy. The pandemic has paralyzed airline operations and is also negatively affecting tourism, travel and transport (mainly passenger transport). This has resulted in reduced demand for fuel. The second factor is the conflict between Russia and the countries belonging to OPEC (the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries), which has prevented agreement on a uniform price per barrel.
In Bolesławiec, fuel stations are reacting very slowly to the global declines. The cheapest fuel in the city is still available at the station by the Tesco supermarket. On Saturday (March 21), a liter of 95-octane gasoline cost PLN 4.25 there. Diesel cost the same as Pb95. LPG cost PLN 1.77.
Next door, at the Orlen station, gasoline and diesel cost about 20 groszy more. The same applies to Amic stations (by the roundabout) and Shell on Spółdzielcza Street. Meanwhile, fuel at Lotos, BP, Circle K and Orlen on Zgorzelecka Street costs another twenty-something groszy more. Interestingly, the difference in the price per liter of fuel between the cheapest and most expensive station in Bolesławiec is more than 40 groszy.
Average fuel prices in Poland (data from March 20, 2020 – Polish Chamber of Liquid Fuels).
- Pb95 – PLN 4.37
- ON – PLN 4.49
- LPG – PLN 1.98