Ministry of Finance puts a hit out on fuel mafia

An investigation by the Ministry of Finance showed that 5.5% of companies commit the crime of using heating oil as vehicle fuel. Out of 93,000 vehicles checked, only 3.2% had heating oil in their tanks. Heating oil and diesel are technically the same substance; the only difference is that the former is subject to 5 times less excise-tax for reasons of social welfare. A lot of farmers as well as delivery companies use heating oil to save on fuel. A fuel mafia has appeared, which sells heating oil as diesel, though the scope of the phenomenon has never been clear. The Ministry of Finance has long argued for a 488% rise in heating oil excise (the bill is already in the Sejm) because of treasury losses. Now it appears that either the scope of the crime is not that widespread and does not justify the sharp excise rise, or that the inspectors were not meticulous enough. (Puls Biznesu, pp.1-2, 4-5). J.L.