The government on Tuesday imposed price ceilings on unleaded gas in 13 prefectures in Greece, without an expiration date, and effective as of Wednesday.

Regional development and competitiveness minister Michalis Chrysohoidis, in a press conference, said that the ceiling would be removed when the problem of excessive prices was permanently solved, and presented figures showing retail prices of up to 16.9 euro cents per liter above the average price in Athens.

A ceiling is also imposed, for the first time, on wholesale unleaded prices in five of the 13 prefectures affected by the retail price ceiling.

Chrysohoidis explained that the ceiling enters into effect on Wednesday, and will not be removed until the prices fall and the problems caused by illicit competition are solved permanently.

The prefectures (and highest prices for unleaded recorded) affected by the ceiling are: Cyclades islands (1.724 euro per litre), Cephallonia (1.769 euro per litre), Corfu (1.765), Lesvos (1.722), Grevena (1.736), Evros (1.744), Evrytania (1.745), Fokida (1.735), the Dodecanese islands (1.724), Lassithi (Crete, 1.788), Rethymno (Crete, 1.774), Samos (1,734) and Chios 1.739).

The ceiling on wholesale prices was imposed on five of those prefectures: Dodecanese (1.654), Lassithi (1.718), Rethymno (1.704), Samos (1.664) and Chios (1.669).

Chrysohoidis announced that beginning on May 9, consumers in Attica prefecture may be informed of the gas stations with the three cheapest prices in their area by sending an sms to the five-digit telephone number "54151", while the system will extend to the entire country as of July.