The government of Bolivia has increased the price of diesel by 84% for large industrial consumers after shortages that had led to queues at filling stations in the South American country, Bloomberg reported on Monday.
A price of 18 bolivianos ($1.55) per liter will be charged to diesel users with a consumption of more than 120 liters a month while the original, lower price of 10 bolivianos remains unchanged for customers who buy less than this amount.
The government hopes that this two-tier system will reduce fuel smuggling and give private companies an incentive to import more supply, the article said.
The new price will be revised on a weekly basis in accordance with market prices, to prevent subsidized fuel from putting a strain on government coffers.
has reached out to Bolivia's energy ministry for comment.
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