The increase in the price of diesel to 214 lek per liter has renewed pressure on public transport, with operators asking the government to extend the compensation scheme to cover the summer months as well. The request comes at a time when costs have risen, while part of the sector says it still has not received the payments foreseen under previous support.
The association seeks continuation of the scheme for June, July and August
The Urban and Interurban Transport Association has submitted a new request to the institutions for the compensation scheme to continue for the months of June, July and August.
According to operators, the high fuel price is directly weighing on the sector’s operating costs, calling into question the normal continuation of activity and the fulfillment of contractual obligations.
Operators speak of an unbearable burden
The association argues that public transport vehicles have high fuel consumption and that the continued rise in diesel prices has created a financial burden that, according to them, is becoming unbearable.
Even though the request comes at the height of the tourist season, when passenger traffic increases, operators say this is not enough to absorb the added fuel cost.
The previously approved scheme and unclear payments
Earlier, after the increase in diesel prices that the government linked to tensions in the Middle East, a fund of 250 million lek was approved to compensate fuel consumption at 50 lek per liter for the March-May period.
But according to operators, some entities still have not received the expected payments. This claim once again raises questions about the pace of implementation of the scheme and about how the support is functioning in practice, beyond official announcements.
Faster reimbursement and simpler procedures requested
In their request, operators are asking not only for the compensation to be extended, but also for reimbursement procedures to be simplified and sped up.
According to the association, the support remains essential to guarantee the continuity of public transport service under conditions of high fuel prices.
The debate remains open between the need to keep the public service operating and the way the government is managing the compensation funds.
For operators, the problem is not only the price of diesel, but also delays and uncertainty over the actual implementation of the promised schemes.