Fuel was given away for free today at Fyshwick, causing a scramble among Canberra’s cost-conscious motorists.

Between 12:00pm and 2:00pm, E10 unleaded petrol and diesel at Metro Petroleum on Barrier Street were listed at 0 cents per litre, with regular unleaded signposted at 2.7 cents.

The prices were not a glitch. Photo: ABC/James Fettes

The drastic price drop was not a glitch in the petrol station’s electronic signage, but a promotional special to coincide with the launch of a new app.

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Each motorist was restricted to a limit of 50 litres.

The petrol station said earlier this month it would be selling petrol at 9 cents per litre today, but dropped the cost to nil at the last moment.

The first arrival waited almost two hours to fill up his tank and he was not alone.

More than 100 motorists keen for a bargain in Canberra’s expensive fuel market were quick to take up the offer, queuing all the way down Barrier Street despite heavy rain.

Traffic management was in place around Barrier Street but cars were able to pass through.

Despite the drop at Fyshwick, prices remained high elsewhere in the territory.

Last week’s unleaded average was 125.9 cents, despite the fact that elsewhere in Australia prices dropped below $1.