As new legislation on shop opening hours takes effect on Friday, some petrol stations in Luxembourg may close earlier in the evenings. However, the changes are not expected to apply uniformly across all stations.
The law, which comes into force on Friday, could particularly affect petrol stations. In a joint press release, the Luxembourg Energy and Mobility Group (GEML) and the Federation of Petrol Station Operators (FESS) outlined the potential consequences for the sector. While opening hours may shift at numerous stations, the situation is likely to vary from one location to another.
Under the new law, petrol stations will be subject to earlier closing times in the evenings. The revised reference opening hours are set at 5am to 9pm on weekdays and 5am to 7pm on weekends. On the eves of National Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day, the standard hours are 5am to 6pm.
In practice, this means that many stations that have previously remained open later in the evenings will now have to close earlier, particularly on weekends.
Not all petrol stations will be affected in the same way, as the legislation allows for exemptions. In some cases, longer opening hours may be introduced through collective agreements. The law also provides for exemptions that are not contingent on a station's specific circumstances.
The majority of Luxembourg's petrol stations are operated independently. As a result, the extent of any changes will depend on the individual decisions of each operator. The situation may continue to evolve over the coming weeks and months. For customers, this means that they will need to check directly with each station regarding any alterations to opening hours.
Stations that allow customers to pay directly at the pump via automated terminals will continue to be able to offer petrol and diesel around the clock.
