ATHENS, Oct. 13 (Xinhua) -- Greece will increase its heating allowance by 30 percent from last year and introduce a direct subsidy at the pump to reduce heating oil prices, National Economy and Finance Minister Kyriakos Pierrakakis said on Tuesday.
The two-pronged support package aims to ease the pressure on households amid the international energy crisis, Pierrakakis told national broadcaster ERT. Details of the measures will be announced on Wednesday, he added.
Also on Tuesday, Deputy Prime Minister Kostis Hatzidakis said the final retail price of heating oil would be clear on Oct. 15, when distribution begins, and it was expected to remain well below 1.75 euros (about 2.03 U.S. dollars) per liter.
The government has also taken steps to contain rising fuel costs. It raised its diesel subsidy from 10 to 15 euro cents (about 11.2-17 U.S. cents) per liter for Oct. 1-15. Including refinery discounts, the total discount at the pump reached 20 euro cents (about 23 U.S. cents) per liter.
Greece's annual consumer price inflation reached 5 percent in September, up from 3.8 percent in August, according to the Hellenic Statistical Authority. Prices in the housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels category rose by 14.7 percent year-on-year, while transport prices increased by 11.3 percent, reflecting higher fuel costs. ■