The price agreement between the oil companies and the governmentwhich establishes a maximum ceiling of 4% of monthly fuel increaseseems not to apply to the Northeastern provinces. In Misiones and Corrientes the increases were 4.5% for low-octane versions and nearly 6% for premium gasoline and diesel at state-owned YPF.
In Posadas pumps, Premium gasoline sells for $179.10 per litre; while the Infinia came in at $222.60. In the diesel range, the 500 sells for $188.40 and the premium version came in at $273.40.
With the rise of Sunday, the gap with suppliers from Buenos Aires and the central country has further widenedgiven that in Buenos Aires a liter from the supermarket costs $150.90 ($28.20 less than in the capital Misiones). In the more refined version, the difference reaches $36.90. And it’s still the cost in diesel: 35.20 in the municipality and 51.40 pesos in the Infinia. If you take the prices of a petrol station in Puerto Iguazú, in the far north of the province, the difference is even greater.
YPF’s pricing policy also generates asymmetries within the province. It is that in the northern area of Misiones the values are higher than those of Posadas. In the city of Las Niagara’s premium diesel retails for $187.90 a liter, or $14.50 more.
Two months ago, the difference was substantially smaller in the values displayed by the Posadas and Buenos Aires pumps, as for premium diesel it was “just” $48.60 per litre.
The president of the Northeast Chamber of Service Stations and Related Services (CESANE), Faruk Jalaf, admitted that “it was surprising that higher percentages were established than the agreement. The price gap continues to widen and it is something that will deepen because we have had the most expensive fuel in the province for a long time. By applying a percentage and not a fixed amount, the difference keeps getting bigger,” he explained.
The leader maintained that “there are no explanations” for the higher increase, which is between 20 and 50% higher than what was agreed between the oil companies and the Economy Minister, Sergio Massa.
“More than two months ago, the Confederation of Hydrocarbons and Related Commercial Entities of the Argentine Republic (CECHA) asked Energía for a meeting to analyze the differential prices practiced within the country, but until now we have received no response,” Khalaf argued.
“The Economic Confederation of Misiones has also called for a return to a uniform price system throughout the country. It turns out that the poorest provinces, with the lowest income, are the ones that have to pay for the most expensive fuel,” the leader complained.
Furthermore, he argued that “there is no justification for premium diesel to be worth more than petrol. This is the first time in history that this has happened.”
Despite the breach of the agreement, the Misiones government does not plan to file any complaints with the Ministry of Economy over the major hike consumers in the Northeast are facing.
NS
Source: Clarin
