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Oil-rich Norway has most expensive petrol prices

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"In Norway, many motorists are up in arms over why they have to pay the highest petrol (gasoline) prices in Europe when the country is the world's fifth-largest oil exporter and a recent tax hike has done little to cool tempers.

"It is really strange: we have lots of oil and we're a rich country. Why do we have to pay so much?" asks Per-Arne Skjerpingstad, a 38-year-old hospital porter as he fills up the tank of his Peugeot 307 at an Oslo gas station for 750 kroner (94 euros, 148 dollars).

Diesel costs 14.23 kroner (1.78 euros, 2.82 dollars) a litre (quarter gallon) and 95 unleaded 13.84 kroner, putting it at the top of the European league, EU figures show.

And while many countries are discussing how to soften the blow of skyrocketing oil prices on consumers, Norway on July 1 increased its already heavy tax take by 0.05 kroner per litre on petrol and 0.10 kroner (0.1 euro cent, 0.2 dollar cent) on diesel.

Seven out of 10 Norwegians oppose the tax increase, according to a July poll by the daily VG.

"It's not the way to go. In a country like Norway, people need to have cars. I bought this car because I'm going to be a father soon," Skjerpingstad said.

Critics argue it is meaningless to increase taxation when oil prices have risen so much in the past months. And as the new tax increase is low, it won't significantly change drivers' behaviour."

More at the link.
J_Jammer

11 responses // Oil-rich Norway has most expensive petrol prices

  • Money Money, Give me your Money!
    petarro
  • KInda ironic
    TexasPatriot67
  • "In Norway you NEED: food, water, shelter, something to cover your dong with, and a car." Skjerpingstad added.
    intercitty
  • Is it also because they have such a strong currency?
    joshuaheller
  • "Why do we have to pay so much?"
    Because oil is bad for ya. alrite.
    joestick
  • the fact that it's an oil-rich nation doesn't seem to counter the reality that the cost of living in norway is among the highest in the world; makes economic sense that oil would be proportionately costly there.
    orangeseverywhere
  • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4L6-0WRfSA&fmt=18
    Norway also has the world's best health care and the world's lowest rate of criminality. Also, the oil is nationalized, and the profits from oil are all placed into a kind of trust fund that will guarantee excellent retirement incomes to all Norwegians for several generations.
    Vierotchka
  • Point is... If we drill here in the USA and become Oil Rich, we could still have high oil prices.

    We are doomed
    ciregg222
  • this completely proves that drilling for oil here in the US will not help at all with the rising costs of fuel. we must go 100% renewable.
    edbr
  • I have some norweigen friends and they are amazed at how expensive EVERYTHING is here in IRELAND.

    Also well done to the article writer for putting the price in Euros and litres in it,
    Owwmykneecap
  • This is not at all the same as the U.S.

    The reason they pay so much for gas is to cover healthcare and other social programs. Everyone wants free healthcare, but they'll complain about the rising costs of other services to counter-act the costs of healthcare.
    ksfrench79

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