Pump price rise condemned

Friends of the Earth Cymru have attacked today's further rise in pump prices. The environmentalists say that world oil prices have been falling and that the timing of the rise is provoking more militant fuel protests. FOE Cymru call on the public to look at the wider story on the oil price rises and the forthcoming COP 6 climate change talks in November.

Neil Crumpton, transport spokesperson said:

"We condemn today's pump price rises by Esso and others, it is provocative. We think that some oil companies are manipulating the fuel crisis situation in the run up to the crucial climate change talks at The Hague on the 18/19 November. This is just one week after the 60 day call off of the refinery protests. If the hauliers and others are not satisfied by government responses after 60 days, their return to the oil refineries could cause national chaos by the following weekend as the conference starts.

Failure at the talks would be a major blow to effective action to tackle global climate change, and Exxon who own Esso have an appalling record on climate change."