The government is open to extending the 20 cents per liter bonus, but will at least limit it “to consumers who need it most”
The government is open to extending the bonus of 20 cents per liter of fuel after June 30, the date when the subsidy introduced by the government in the anti-crisis decision approved on April 1. But in the event that it considers that the conditions for maintenance have been met, this help will no longer be available to everyone and will be limited to the families who need it most.
This was confirmed on Friday by Third Vice President and Minister for the Ecological Transition, Teresa Ribera, after the debate over the effectiveness of this measure has intensified in recent weeks as alarms have gone off following a warning that fuel prices are rising and absorb the discount in some way. “Our intention is to be very vigilant and if we are to continue to guide consumers towards paying their fuel bills, we will have to outline the most accurate systems for consumers who need it most.”
Both Ribera and the Minister of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda, Raquel Sánchez, had already announced weeks ago that this aid could be extended if the current crisis situation resulting from the invasion of Ukraine continues. And everything indicates that this will be the case, but the duration has yet to be specified, which could be another three months and thus cover the summer, a time of great mobility.
It would also be necessary to determine who would limit this aid, because what the minister has clearly confirmed this Friday is that it will not be universal. The most vulnerable families would be expected to be the ultimate beneficiaries, but this bonus could also be extended to certain groups, such as carriers
Since 1 April last year, when the aid came into effect, a liter of petrol and diesel now costs about five euro cents more than then. The measure introduced by the executive included a state rebate of 15 cents per liter (and up to 20 cents if it was a small or medium-sized gas station, i.e. outside the large companies), plus five cents that each oil company had to contribute. With the evolution of costs, these five euros have already eaten up the bonus itself.
Specifically, the liter of diesel has increased by more than 2%, mainly due to the increase of more than 10 cents per liter in the past two weeks. The average of this fuel is now 1.91 euros, a reference never seen before. At the beginning of April, it stood at 1.86 euros. Petrol, for its part, has even become more expensive, 3.3% in the past month, from almost 1.83 euros to the current 1.88 euros.
Source: La Verdad
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
