However, some said prices would stay the same as long as Mobil continued to supply fuel as wholesalers, and that supermarket discount dockets posed the biggest threat to competitive pricing.

Under a proposed deal, Caltex would take over 302 Mobil-branded service stations, including five in Mildura, helping it eclipse Shell as Victoria’s biggest supplier.

Opposition and independent MPs have urged the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) not to let the deal go ahead, calling for the competition watchdog to block the acquisition.

Steven Tittensor, Titto’s Store manager, said the Caltex takeover would kill independent fuel retailers in Mildura.

“It would mean only Shell, Caltex and Woolworth’s would survive,” Mr Tittensor said.

“There would be a duopoly with just Shell and Caltex running the show, in cohorts with the supermarkets.

For more of this story, purchase your copy of Monday’s Sunraysia Daily 7/9/2009.