Bolivia Doubles Diesel Price for Big Users, Keeps Subsidy for Drivers
Large consumers will pay Bs 18 a litre from August, while ordinary drivers and families keep the subsidized Bs 9.80. Here's who is affected and why it matters. The post Bolivia Doubles Diesel Price for Big Users, Keeps Subsidy for Drivers appeared first on The Rio Times .
Starting August, large consumers in Bolivia will pay twice as much for diesel, while regular drivers will continue to enjoy a subsidy. The new price is Bs 18 (about US$1.55) per liter for big users, compared to the subsidized Bs 9.80 (about US$0.85) for ordinary drivers. This change aims to ease fiscal pressure and prevent contraband, though the law does not explicitly mention contraband.
The government split the large consumers into three categories: GRACOS (20,000+ liters), Clientes directos (5,000-19,999 liters), and Usuarios directos (120-5,000 liters). They all purchase through YPFB, Bolivia’s state oil company, and must be registered in YPFB’s direct-purchase categories. Ordinary drivers, families, and small businesses continue to pay the regulated price.
The new price is a temporary reference, and a government rule setting the price must appear within five working days. The daily repricing reflects Bolivia’s gradual shift toward market-based fuel prices, aiming to reduce the government’s spending gap while maintaining social stability.
Written by urgent.news from The Rio Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
