Norway fuel tax rise sends prices soaring as drivers stockpile fuel
Tuesday 1st September 2026 on 10:45 in
Finland
Fuel prices in Norway surged overnight after a temporary tax cut expired, prompting some drivers to stockpile hundreds of litres. Yle reported the changes, citing Norway’s public broadcaster NRK.
In Alta in northern Norway, petrol station price boards showed diesel at 29.63 kroner per litre and petrol at 27.94 kroner. That was equivalent to 2.74 euros for diesel and 2.58 euros for petrol on Tuesday morning.
Norway’s parliament cut fuel taxes in March because of price increases caused by the war in the Middle East. The reduction, which had made fuel in Norway cheaper than in Finland during the summer, ended at the beginning of September.
When taxes returned to their normal levels early Tuesday, diesel became 4.51 kroner more expensive per litre and petrol 4.26 kroner more expensive, an increase of about 40 cents.
Reindeer herder Stian Andre Kemi was among those who prepared for the increase. He filled canisters with 600 litres of fuel on Monday, a quantity he estimated would last almost two weeks.
“My wife told me to hurry and fill up before the tax went up. It happened a little spontaneously, and perhaps I will have to get more canisters later,” Kemi told NRK.
As a self-employed worker and reindeer herder, Kemi said he was completely dependent on fuel.
“The prices have been completely unreasonable, at least for reindeer herding. We are entirely dependent on fuel and cannot get anywhere without it,” he said.
Kemi had feared that prices could rise to as much as 30 kroner per litre. That fear was realised on Tuesday morning.
He was not the only person to arrive at a petrol station with extra canisters. Ronald Pettersen filled about 100 litres for his car and all-terrain vehicle, despite also having an electric car.
Many Norwegians have questioned the high prices, particularly compared with neighbouring Sweden.
“Sweden is not even an oil-producing country, and yet fuel is cheaper there than in Norway,” Kemi said.
Fuel in Sweden has also been up to 60 cents cheaper than in Finland, where queues have formed at some filling stations near the border. Sweden’s temporary tax decision remains in force until the end of September.