DILI, 25 april 2022 (TATOLI) – The Government of Timor-Leste, through the Ministry of Petroleum and Minerals (MPM) had identified 59 petrol stations in the country to be contracted for the implementation of the fossil fuel subsidy to solve the rising oil and diesel prices in the country.
Downstream Director of The National Petroleum and Minerals Authority (ANPM), Nelson de Jesus said the operators of the public transport (buses, mini-buses, taxis, trucks, fishing vessels, passenger ferries, and farm tractors would get the subsidy for these 59 eligible petrol stations.
“The operators of these public transport, including fishing vessels, passengers ferries, and farm tractors would receive the subsidy at these petrol stations,” De Jesus told reporters, at Suai Room, in Timor Plaza, Dili, on Monday.
He said the price of gasoline and diesel would vary among municipalities, saying, therefore, the Government would issue a ministerial diploma to set the petrol price for each municipality and RAEOA.
“They will get the average price of gasoline, for instance, at US$1.08 per liter in december 2020. So, if the current price is higher, then the subsidy would cover the rest,” he said.
Related news:http://www.tatoli.tl/en/2022/04/22/govt-to-implement-fossil-fuel-subsidy-next-week/
This fossil fuel subsidy is set to terminate at the end of july 2022, however, previously the Council of Ministers revealed it may extend the date if the petrol price kept rising.
The government of Timor-Leste, through the meeting of the Council of Ministers (CoM), approved, on april 13, the draft deliberation presented by Minister of Petroleum and Minerals, Víctor da Conceição Soares, regarding the fossil fuel subsidy for the public transport operators, including land, water, and air transport, to stabilize the petrol prices in Timor-Leste.
On april 19, the President of the Republic, Francisco Guterres ‘Lú Olo, approved the decree-law on the fossil fuel subsidy, presented by the government as an immediate action to lower the price paid by the fossil consumers in the country.
Previously, Interim Minister of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, Rui Augusto Gomes said that the war in Ukraine led to a substantial increase in the fuel prices in the country. Therefore, the government wanted to stabilize the petrol prices to prevent any harmful consequences to the economy and the people of Timor-Leste.
Related News:http://www.tatoli.tl/en/2022/04/13/govt-to-subsidize-public-transport-operators-amid-rising-petrol-and-diesel-prices/
Journalist: Filomeno Martins
Editor: Nelia Borges Rosario
