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Business / Energy

Venezuela announces first gasoline hike in 20 years

Published: 18 Feb 2016 - 07:47 am | Last Updated: 02 Nov 2021 - 11:57 am
Peninsula

Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro said the pump price of premium gasoline would jump from just under 0.1 bolivars per liter to six bolivars -- an increase of roughly 6,000 percent (AFP Photo/Juan Barreto)

Caracas: Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro said Wednesday he would raise the price of gasoline for the first time in 20 years, as he faces growing pressure to ease an economic crisis.

Maduro said in a televised address he would raise the pump price of premium gasoline from its current super-low level of $0.01 per liter to the equivalent of $0.95 at the fixed official exchange rate, in a country where citizens are struggling with soaring inflation.

AFP