200 PESOS MORE FOR A GALLON OF FUEL

While Catholics were attending the religious ceremonies of their Holy Week, the price of gasoline increased 200 pesos more (US 0.105) in Colombia in gas stations and ACPM. It has the intention to keep the Stabilization Fund to Fuel Prices, according to the Ministry of Energy. Fuel costs 7.520,23 pesos in cities like Medellín (US 3, 93.)
Minister Hernán Martínez declared to the media that the Stabilization Fund for Fuel Prices is an attempt to keep the behavior of the fuel international prices above US82 barrel. He assured that the fuel price in Colombia is below the international prices.

The 200 pesos increase means the 50 percent more of what it was in February 2009, but the Minister guaranteed that the current international prices of fuel and the value of dollar will not cause a new rise.


Colombia is looking also to stop dependency on fossil fuel. It contemplates the use of oxygenate fuel in some regions like northern Colombia. It is a gasoline additive that reduces the carbon monoxide (that is created during the burning of the fuel.) The use of oxygenate fuel in cities like Barranquilla, Cartagena and Santa Marta mean an increase of 150 pesos in fuel, 50 pesos less than the rest of the country.

If we consider that Europe has even until 9 US dollars per gallon, the Colombian price is more than 50 percent less. The cheapest gallons are found in oil countries like United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and others, where the gallon costs between 0.45 and 1.40 US dollars.

Colombia as another Western country depends its economy in fuel. As development is going on, roads are reaching more rural areas and the number of vehicles increase, the price of fuel has more influence in the Colombian standard of life. According to the statistics of the Ministry of Transports, in 2008 Colombia had more than 5 million 200 thousand cars on its roads. Buses and vans summed about 205 thousand, trucks 200 thousand, cars 1 million 800 thousand, while by October 2009 there were two million motorbikes according to Fenalco. Of course it is small in comparison with countries like US where Americans drive nearly three trillion miles per year, according to the Motor and Equipment Manufacturer’s Association. It says that it is like 820 trips from the sun to Pluto and back!

The almost 4 dollars per gallon in Colombia put the country in the global average price, a slightly cheaper than countries like Japan (US 4,24), Spain (US 4,55) and Ireland (US 4,78). We are more expensive than countries like Brazil (US 3,12) and Cuba (US 3,03.)

We hope that the price will keep stability this year and the coming ones! Colombia is also an oil producer, though not in the same proportion of countries like Venezuela, but it must be kept in mind in order to think our development.

FUENTE: By Albeiro RodasColombia PassportEconomy, Society and Culture in Colombia