Carriers demand diesel return to stabilization fund

Next Tuesday, October 26, the interprovincial transport and cargo union will initiate an indefinite national strike. Martin Ojeda, director of the National Council of Land Transportation (CNTT), explained that the force measure – the second so far this year – seeks a statement from the central government regarding the collection of tolls at the national level, inspection of informal transport and respect the increase in the price of fuel (diesel).

Regarding this last aspect, he explained that in the last 10 months the average price of a gallon of diesel went from S / 8.50 to S / 16.45. Meanwhile, Ojeda pointed out, when the international price of oil fell, Petroperú and Repsol (wholesalers) never applied discounts; For this reason, today the international price of crude oil begins to skyrocket (currently more than US $ 80 a barrel) and generates an operating imbalance that, if it was previously equivalent to 33%, to date is higher than 50%. “For that reason, we are asking for a stabilization fund for diesel,” he said.

It is important to highlight that from the end of March to August 2021, vehicular diesel was incorporated into the Fuel Price Stabilization Fund (FEPC). It is worth saying that today it is not valid for this fuel.

Sales are coming

Petroperú reported that, as of today, Friday, October 22, it will reduce the list price of diesel by S / 0.23 per gallon, being the cheapest list price in the market.

“The increases in fuel prices in the local market in recent months are explained by a sustained increase in international prices since November 2020,” the state company noted.

ISC refund

Carriers also require the refund of 100% of the selective consumption tax (ISC). They explained that, currently, the diesel used by this sector contains 50 parts per million (ppm) of sulfur, a level of contamination below the 5,000 ppm sulfur of the years 2004 and 2005, periods in which there were returns from the ISC, which same in 2019. “The return would only be to formal transport,” noted Ojeda.

However, for Gustavo Navarro, Director in Peru of Gas Energy, although it is true that diesel is less polluting than a few years ago, it continues to be more so compared to natural gas.

“Therefore, proposing that the ISC be returned to them is against the law that established the criterion of harmfulness to set the ISC in fuels ”, stressed the expert.

Help to switch to natural gas

Navarro noted that the total demand for fuels in the country is 250,000 barrels per day and about 120,000 are diesel, for which an international price is paid.

“Peru has plenty of natural gas, and the transportation sector must be helped to switch to natural gas. When a truck driver uses diesel, everything he pays goes abroad, on the other hand, if he used natural gas, an important part would stay in Peru via royalties, “he said.