Protestors picket RECOPE over increasing fuel prices; demand end to monopoly

Protestors picketed RECOPE headquarters on Wednesday.
(Ariel Carcas / Facebook)

June 18^th, 2015 (InsideCostaRica.com) A group of protestors picketed the head offices of the Costa Rican Oil Refinery (RECOPE) on Wednesday, in protest against ongoing hikes in the prices of gasoline and diesel in the country.

The group, which organized via the Facebook page, “Ya no mas Recope,” said they question why RECOPE continues to increase fuel prices at the same time that international prices fall.

One of the organizers of the group said rising fuel prices affects everyone, especially the poor, as the end result is an increase in the price of all goods, including food, due to transportation costs.

The protestors are calling for a referendum to end State-owned RECOPE’s monopoly of gasoline and diesel and to open the market to free competition, which they believe would result in lower prices as a result of competitive market forces.

A number of unions turned out to counter the protesters and their claims, included the Allied Oil and Chemical Workers Union and the National Association of Public and Private Employees (ANEP), arguing that the current State-owned model of RECOPE is not to blame for high fuel prices.  The unions argue that high government taxes, not the monopoly of RECOPE, is to blame.

In its most recent request to regulators last week, RECOPE is seeking an increase of ¢43 per liter for premium and ¢37 per liter for regular gasoline to take effect in July.

In a separate request, RECOPE is also requesting an additional ¢9/liter on all fuel types.

The most recent increase to take affect was less than a month ago, when super gasoline increased by ¢43 per liter and regular increased by ¢35/liter.