Gas sale companies oppose new cash registers

TIRANA, Jan. 25 – Liquid gas companies operating in Albania have strongly opposed a Finance Ministry decision which obliges them to install new costly cash registers measuring gas in litres and not kg as they currently do. In a joint statement after a meeting this week in Durres, the wholesale gas companies threatened to suspend the sale of gas if the Finance Ministry does not cancel its decision.
“We think this measure does not serve our companies, the state or consumers but only those who sell cash registers at staggering prices which are up to 60,000 euros,” said the companies in a joint statement after a meeting in Durres.
However, the Tax Directorate has dismissed the operators’ claims saying that the new cash register system will measure the real turnover and examine the amount and quality of gas which traders are not willing to do.
Gas prices in Albania have registered significant increases during the past two months following rising prices in international markets, the depreciation of lek against the US dollar and the difficulties in customs clearance in ports.
Traders complain the installation of the new equipment would further increase gas prices in Albania. Currently, licensed gas operators pay VAT on kg. Prices of liquid gas, which is used as a cheaper alternative to cooking and heating, continued increasing even in December with prices up by another 9.8 percent compared to last November. Currently gas prices are at 80 lek/litre.
Hundreds of retail operators sell liquid gas bottled in 10-15 kg cylinders even in unlicensed highly inhabited areas.