More Gas Hikes Approved
The Autoridad Reguladora de los Servicios Públicos (Aresep) yesterday approved the latest gasoline price jump request by the national refinery, Recope.

Fortunately, because of the Semana Santa, the price ¢16 colones price jump on a litre of super gasoline will not take effect until the middle of next week, as the notice has to first be published in the official government publication, La Gaceta.

The Imprenta Nacional (national printer) is off Thursday and Friday this week, extending the printing process by two more days, since the law requires the publication within five working days.

The price jump approved yesterday is only for super gasoline and jet fuel, which will jump by ¢28 colones. A separate request for an increase of ¢16 colones a litre for regular gasoline was made by Recope, but has yet to be approved.

Reocpe blames the conflict in Iran, saying it has pushed up the price of crude oil on world markets.

The new super gasoline prices will be ¢533 colones, up from the present ¢517 and jet fuel will go to ¢581 up from the current ¢533 colones per litre.