The Italian energy group Eni announced on 25 September 2026 a fuel price cap effective from Monday, 28 September, diesel at Enilive petrol stations will cost no more than €2.19 per litre, and petrol €1.99. The measure is initially in place for 30 days, with an extension until the end of the year possible depending on market developments and supply conditions. The move coincides with the expiry of the government's diesel price brake , whose tax relief is simultaneously halved and expires entirely at the beginning of October.
What Eni is specifically announcing
The price cap applies at petrol stations belonging to the group's subsidiary Enilive, which emerged from the former Agip brand in January 2024. According to its own figures, the Enilive network comprises more than 4,000 petrol stations in Italy and over 5,000 across Europe. The stations are identifiable by the red Enilive logo and can be located via the Station Finder on the Enilive website and app. Petrol stations belonging to other networks, such as Q8, IP, Tamoil, or independent operators, are not affected.
The cap applies equally to attended and self-service (servito and self service), provided market prices would otherwise be higher. Eni makes an explicit link to the government's fuel tax reduction, which remains in force for the time being.
How much can be saved
The saving amounts to around 17 cents per litre compared with current market prices. According to data from the fuel price monitoring service Osservatorio prezzi carburanti of the Italian Ministry of Economic Development, MIMIT, diesel at self-service pumps currently averages €2.338 per litre on ordinary roads and €2.421 on motorways. Petrol averages €2.154 on ordinary roads and €2.247 on motorways.
The consumer organisation Codacons has calculated the saving on a full tank: for a diesel fill-up, the price cap means approximately €10.40 less, and for a petrol fill-up around €11.20. The actual saving will depend on whether the market price on any given day exceeds the cap and whether an Enilive petrol station is accessible nearby.
The broader context
Eni has deliberately linked the price cap to the reduction in the government's fuel tax relief. Under the government decree of 16 September 2026, the tax relief previously granted on diesel will be halved from 28 September, falling from 12.2 to 6.1 cents per litre by 5 October. This means diesel self-service prices will rise by several cents in arithmetical terms, unless other factors offset the increase.
In its announcement, Eni refers to the Riparti con Eni campaign of 2012, during which the group offered weekend discounts at the height of the economic crisis of that period. The current price cap had been advocated in recent weeks by both the employers' association Confimprenditori and the oil industry association Federpetroli.
Political reactions
The Meloni government welcomed the move in an official statement from Palazzo Chigi as "praiseworthy consideration for Italy", one that points in the desired direction of moderating prices. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani described the initiative as an example of effective collaboration between institutions and major national companies.
Criticism of the timing and scope has come from the opposition. PD senator Francesco Boccia pointed out that Eni is under state control and therefore cannot be regarded as a philanthropist. Angelo Bonelli of the Green Left (AVS) and CGIL General Secretary Maurizio Landini are calling for a permanent reduction in fuel duties on fuels.
