Low water level in the Rhine: gasoline and diesel remain expensive

Cost a liter of diesel early October in the national average of 1.34 euros, it was the end of the month 1.42 euros. Super gasoline became more expensive during the month, according to data from the Association of Mineral Oil Industries (MWV), from 1.49 euro to 1.53 euro per liter. During the same period, a barrel of crude oil (159 liters) of the Brent variety of the North Sea depreciated by eleven percent to reach 66.40 euros.

Normally, motorists can rely on the prices of gasoline, diesel and fuel oil to fluctuate with crude oil and dollar prices, sometimes a little more, sometimes a little less. However, this fall does not bring relief to the markets among motorists. The reason is the drought, which has lowered river water levels since the spring. October was too dry; Precipitation was half the size of the long-term average.

Ships can carry less

Above all, the Rhine and its tributaries play an important role in Germany's oil supply. There are sometimes huge refineries, fueled by pipelines with crude oil. Finished products are transported by river to riverbank storage facilities, then by rail and truck to the consumer.

However, because of the low water levels in the rivers, ships can only carry half, if not less, gasoline, diesel and heating oil as usual. Rail and road replacement is difficult and expensive due to limited capacity. The products do not come to the customer or at much higher prices.

"We can not say when the situation is relaxed"

That's what motorists feel the most in the south. In Karlsruhe, for example, motorists have to pay 1.56 euro for a liter of super-liter and only 1.44 euro in Rostock, while Karlsruhe is home to a major refinery. The north is almost oversupplied and does not depend on inland navigation; to the south, it crunches in all directions. This does not change the fact that the Confederation has temporarily opened its emergency reserve in order to avoid bottlenecks in supply. Some gas stations have been empty for a while.

The mineral oil industry is not yet clear: "We can not say when the situation will have calmed down," said a MWV spokesperson in Berlin. Even in the rain, river levels rise only slowly. As long as supply chain problems persist, motorists must pay for it.

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