Gloria Camargo
The increase in the price of gasoline in Colombia has generated concern in various sectors of society. The minister of Mines and Energy, Irene Vélez, announced last week that the increase would be $600 in June, which coincides with the increase of the previous month. The intention of the National Government is to equate the internal price of gasoline with the international price, which has experienced a significant increase in recent months.
However, cargo transport unions have expressed their disagreement with this measure and have raised the need to separate the internal price from international prices.
They consider it inappropriate for the country to be governed by the international price when Colombia is an oil producer. Henry Cárdenas, president of Fedetranscarga, has emphasized the importance of oil exploration in the country to guarantee the stability of fuel prices.
The fear is that if exploration stops, fuel prices will rise further, which would have a significant impact on the economy of transporters and citizens in general.
In addition to the impact on cargo carriers, the increase in the price of gasoline directly affects the pockets of citizens. It is estimated that a gallon of gasoline could cost $16,000 by the end of the year, which is especially detrimental to people who depend on mobility, such as couriers and delivery service drivers. Taxi drivers have also been forced to increase their rates to be able to face the increase in fuel costs, which affects the end user.
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Faced with this situation, the transporters union has urged the Government not to increase the price of diesel until the fuel formula is reviewed and a price can be established according to the current economic context. According to Fedetranscarga’s calculations, an increase of $1,000 in the price of diesel translates into a 4% increase in the prices of the family basket. Therefore, it is crucial to review the price of fuels and the taxes that are generated from them.
The union’s president has also highlighted the importance of keeping fuel prices stable so as not to generate panic in the economy of transporters. At a time when cargo is low in the country and many carriers are struggling to stay afloat, price stability is essential to ensure the economic viability of this sector.
In summary, the increase in the price of gasoline in Colombia has generated concern in cargo transport unions and in the population in general. While the Government seeks to equate the internal price with the international price, transporters raise the need to separate both prices and review the fuel formula. The price increase affects not only transporters, but also citizens who depend on mobility, and the Government is expected to take measures to guarantee the stability of fuel prices and protect the economy of transporters and the General population.