Brazil’s state oil company Petrobras said on Monday it will raise diesel prices at refinery gates starting Tuesday.
The move comes less than a week after President Jair Bolsonaro had urged the company not to raise fuel prices again, arguing that it could bankrupt Brazil and cause what he called a “seizure.” national”.
Petróleo Brasileiro SA, as the company is formally known, said in a statement that diesel prices will rise from 4.51 reais per liter to 4.91 reais ($0.9580) per liter.
Petrobras said the price hike, the first in two months, was necessary to bring it in line with international diesel prices when global supply is tighter.
For its part, the Ministry of Infrastructure analyzes “alternatives” to alleviate the pressure of the increase in the price of diesel on self-employed truckers. The position, disclosed by the ministry, came after questions about Petrobras’ fuel readjustment announcement at refineries. “The Ministry of Infrastructure, together with other authors of the Federal Government, participates in debates and studies of alternatives that can reduce costs and improve the situation of self-employed transport workers, with whom the dialogue is constant and always open,” he reported. .
The ministry’s stance indicates the caution with which the government treats the category. The truck drivers were part of the support base of President Jair Bolsonaro in the 2018 elections. (With information from Valor Economico)