In a bid to minimize gasoline imports and stimulate economic improvement amidst escalating fuel prices, Colombian President Gustavo Petro has called for a nationwide reduction in gasoline usage.
Petro, announcing his initiative on Twitter, is also committed to cutting down his own motorcade size as a personal contribution.
Economist Yezid Soler, speaking to Sputnik, agreed with Petro’s stance, suggesting various strategies for realizing this reduction.
Soler referenced the inadvertent drop in global gasoline consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic as people transitioned to remote work and pointed out that a substantial portion of Colombians are already avoiding transportation by finding work closer to home or walking.
Soler noted that current initiatives to ease traffic congestion also aid in curbing fuel consumption.
For instance, Bogotá’s Pico y Placa policy restricts private vehicle usage based on license plate numbers, encouraging carpooling as an alternative.
Despite the positive economic performance acknowledged by international entities, the Petro administration continues to grapple with the inherited deficit of the Fuel Price Stabilization Fund.
Consequently, the government has been compelled to raise the price of a gallon of gasoline nationwide for two consecutive months, now exceeding 12,300 Colombian pesos (almost three dollars) on average.
With information from Sputnik