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Ecuador to raise rate for most-used fuels as it cuts aids

Ecuador's federal government is set to raise the price of the nation's mostused kinds of gasoline as part of plans to cut fuel subsidies, the Economy Ministry said on Friday, in spite of calls by unions and others for protests versus the step.

The strategy, which is most likely to come into effect next month, will raise the cost of two various types of gas to be in line with international prices and develop a system to set monthly prices.

President Daniel Noboa, who was chosen in October to finish his predecessor's term and is anticipated to run again in 2025, has stated removing state aids for gasoline is needed to improve the nation's beleaguered finances.

Aids for diesel and domestic gas will stay in place.

Under the measure, both extra gasoline and ecopais. fuel will rise in cost by 0.26 cents to $2.72 per gallon,. though rates can increase by as much as 5% or fall by as much as. 10% month-to-month depending upon worldwide crude costs,. according to a file shared by the Economy Ministry.

Efforts to remove fuel aids have actually previously triggered. mass protests by unions, social motions and Native. organizations and Noboa's procedures have already drawn ire, with. some groups alleging the modifications were ordered by the. International Monetary Fund, though Noboa drifted them before a. current deal with the IMF.

Ecuador and the IMF in May reached a contract to underpin. a four-year, $4 billion extended fund center.

The government will supply compensation to some 85,000. owners of transportation automobiles, including taxis and cargo trucks,. depending on ranges driven, and is holding talks with. various interested groups, according to the ministry.

Compensation would amount to some $35 million between July and. December this year, a substantial fall from the $644 million. spent by the federal government on aids for the 2 fuels last. year.

(source: Reuters)