There is a concrete protest against the high cost of fuel, announced on the very day in which Eni and Enilive distributors begin to apply the cap on the price of petrol and diesel, as established by the Italian energy giant, whose control is public. Truck drivers stop for 5 days due to the high price of diesel.
5 days of protest
Salvatore Bella, coordinator of the Sicilian hauliers’ committee, explained: “Having had no response from the national government to our request for intervention on the high fuel prices and no news relating to the sea modal shift payments, the Sicilian hauliers’ committee has proclaimed a halt to transport and will not move its semi-trailers in the ports of Sicily starting from 00.01 on 16 October for five days, until midnight on 20 October. We will remain stationary with our trucks in our squares until the government gives us answers.”
The “sea modal shift” is an Italian state incentive program managed by Ram SpA for the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, aimed at decongesting the road network and reducing environmental impact by shifting road freight transport towards short-sea maritime services.
Farmers block the Palermo-Agrigento route
However, the protest of Sicilian farmers belonging to the Agrisat association is already underway, who are currently blocking the Palermo-Agrigento state road, precisely because of expensive diesel fuel. About thirty tractors stopped traffic at the Bolognetta junction, in the Palermo area. Traffic is paralyzed up to the city. A second protest is underway on the 117 bis state road that connects Gela to Catania, at the roundabout at the crossroads for Niscemi.
“300 euros for each full tank”
The president of Agrisat, Franco Calderone, explained at the event: “In a tractor to plow and cultivate, 300 euros of diesel are needed every morning, so a reduction of 15 cents is nothing and obviously this problem affects everyone because this involves an increase in the final product. If the cherry tomato costs 7 or 8 euros it is also for this reason.”