The nationwide federation of fuel traders POPEK has issued a statement demanding that the special consumption tax on heating oil be reinstated to its 2011-2012 levels.

In its statement the federation argues that the government has the exclusive responsibility of tackling illicit fuel trade and adulteration and stresse that the government has neglected to implement relevant legislation from 2009.

POPEK claims that the recent admission from the Deputy Minister of Finances Christos Staikouras that the tax hike was a failure confirms its initial estimations.

The tax hike is estimated to have cost the government about 750 million euros in revenue during the 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 winter periods, when thousands of households were left without heating.