Gas guzzlers at many military pumps in Europe may both gulp more and go dry in September, depending on where they drive and their preferred fuel flavor.
The cost of unleaded gasoline at Army and Air Force Exchange pumps in Germany and Britain will drop three to four cents a gallon, while at the same time diesel increases.
The Netherlands loses all around, with unleaded gas costing 10 cents more and diesel costing 24 cents more a gallon, according to an AAFES news release.
The changes won’t affect pumps in other countries, either because prices are set annually or the Navy manages that area’s military gas prices.
The cause for confusion is that the unleaded price of gasoline in the United States went down in recent weeks, but diesel did not. According to the Department of Energy, as of Aug. 23 American diesel prices were up 37 cents a gallon compared with the same time last year.
“Gas prices in the U.S. are fluctuating slightly but there is an increased demand for diesel and a stilted supply,” said Maj. David Accetta, spokesman for AAFES in Europe, citing the Oil Pricing Information Service.
Though AAFES attempts to adjust its European prices to mirror the past four weeks’ prices in the United States, it won’t do it where the cost of fuel is too high. In the Netherlands, home to the European Union’s highest petrol prices, local costs were so high that AAFES raised prices for September instead of following the American trend.
Military drivers stationed in the Netherlands may try buying coupons in Germany if they’re visiting, as the same coupons work in both countries.
Prices for September
In Germany, with Europe’s largest concentration of military drivers, normal unleaded drops from $2.08 per gallon to $2.05. Super unleaded drops from $2.18 to $2.14. Diesel increases from $1.91 to $1.99.
In Britain, super unleaded drops from $2.11 to $2.08 per gallon. Diesel rises from $1.84 to $1.93.
In the Netherlands, super unleaded rises from $2.19 to $2.29 per gallon. Super plus unleaded increases from $2.43 to $2.53. Diesel increases from $2.04 to $2.28.
— Ward Sanderson
