Spain fuel subsidy to end September 30 as pump prices hit record highs

Fill up before Thursday: the warning that already sounds old

Should you fill up before Thursday? That's the dilemma left by the latest warning about fuel prices. Petrol and diesel drivers are urged to refuel before September 30, when state aid ends: 5 cents per litre for petrol and 20 for diesel. The backdrop doesn't invite calm, because fuel has reached record highs since it began rising six months ago. So far, the official version of the scare.

What really changes on September 30

The tangible thing is the date. From then on, the public discount per litre refuelled disappears —barring a last-minute U-turn— and the cost falls entirely on the driver. The urgent message insists that filling up before that day pays off, and with prices where they are, it's not a minor recommendation.

The murky part comes from another angle. Against the alarmist tone, there's information that the Government will extend tax cuts on petrol and diesel and cap the gas tariff to prevent it from soaring in winter. If confirmed, the last-minute squeeze loses much of its point and the rush stays just that, a rush.

The alert that gets recycled every few days

The déjà vu is no accident. Some people keep track and claim the same message has been repeated since two weeks ago, with the same urgent tone and the same background date, without the price having taken a turn between warnings. A warning repeated so many times stops being a warning and becomes a habit.

Hence the suspicion. Filling up in a hurry has an opportunity cost: if the price falls afterwards, the savings from the aid are eaten up by the drop. And quite a few have already decided they won't move for an alert that sounds like a copy.

1.77 euros per litre of 95 petrol

The figure that captures the moment was given by an ordinary driver: 1.77 euros per litre of 95 petrol, with the irony of wondering if that has already saved the planet. The answer, in case anyone is looking for it, is no. Paying more doesn't decarbonise anything by itself.

The picture is completed with predictions. One current holds that the price will fall on Thursday to 1.5 euros and that, therefore, filling up in advance is giving money away. Another, more prudent, suggests a middle ground: put in ten euros now and decide later whether it's worth filling the tank. Neither heroism nor panic.

From diesel to electric and to the bicycle

The rising cost of fuel reopens the old discussion. For those who drive many kilometres a year in a combustion car, the maths starts tipping the balance towards electric, provided there's somewhere to charge it. For those without that charging point, the argument falls apart quickly. And keeping the old car while it's still in good working order remains, for many, the most sensible option: buying a new one to save fuel is the most expensive way to save.

At the opposite extreme is someone who has already solved it on pedals. The bicycle doesn't refuel, doesn't go up and doesn't expire on September 30. It's not for everyone, but as a response to the urgent warning it has the virtue of not needing a petrol station.

With this level of confidence in the forecast, it's odd that anyone fills up. Although, on reflection, there's always the heroic exit: refuel before Thursday, watch the price fall on Friday and console yourself with having saved the planet.