Independent filling stations facing extinction

There are 600 independent filling stations left in Romania at present, whilst in 2004, when the fuel market was liberalised in the wake of Petrom privatisation, around there were 1,200 such stations operational. At that moment, they had a market share of around 17%, they now have around 7%, but amid the crisis, as well as compulsory investments, filling station owners could go down to less than 2% of the market. According to the current stipulations, by the end of this month independent filling station owners have to install video surveillance systems or inventory management ones allowing for incoming or outgoing fuel quantities to be checked at any moment. Market players say around 600 such stations are left on the market, but their number will fall as a result of the crisis and competition from large companies. Experts say that only the independent filling stations located in areas where it makes no sense for a major company such as Petrom, Lukoil, Rompetrol, MOL and Agip to invest will survive.