The National Government reversed $46 per gallon increase which was planned for the gasoline motor running during October, after President Abelardo De La Espriella ordered that this adjustment not be passed on to consumers.
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The decision was reported this Thursday, October 1, by the Ministry of Mines and Energy and the Ministry of Finance, after the president learned of the adjustment and summoned the Minister of Mines and Energy to ask that the increase not reach the price that Colombians pay.
🔴 The National Government reversed the increase of $46 per gallon that was planned for regular motor gasoline during October, after President Abelardo De La Espriella ordered that this adjustment not be passed on to consumers. pic.twitter.com/Gws7y4XrRi
— EL TIEMPO (@ELTIEMPO) October 2, 2026
In this way, the increase of $46 per gallon that was planned for this month is without effect. That is to say, Consumers will not have to bear this increase in the price of gasoline during October.
The rise was related with an update of the price recognized to ethanol producers. As the ministries explained, it was an adjustment to the formula that had an automatic effect on the final price of gasoline.
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However, The Government decided to reverse the measure after the presidential instruction. In the statement, the ministries indicated that any decision that has a direct impact on citizens’ pockets must be explained clearly and publicly.
“The first duty of the Government is to the citizen. Colombians cannot be surprised with a decision that affects their pocketbooks, without a clear and public explanation and without having exhausted all possible alternatives,” the document states.
President Abelardo De La Espriella and the Minister of Mines, María Nohemí Arboleda Arango Photo:Presidency
What will happen with the increase to $46?
As things stand, the increase planned for October will not apply.
However, the Government will maintain the economic recognition that corresponds to ethanol producers. The difference will be assumed by the State during October.
In total, the National Government will allocate $8.3 billion to cover this cost as a subsidy to users. “The cost of $8.3 billion is assumed by the National Government as a subsidy to users during October,” states the statement issued by the executives.
This means that, although recognition is maintained for ethanol producers, That value will not be transferred during October directly to consumers through the increase that was planned.
Gasoline. Photo:AFP
What will happen to the price of ACPM?
The ACPM, for its part, will continue without changes during October.
According to the Ministry of Mines and Energy and the Ministry of Finance, the measure adopted in September against the effects of the earthquake is maintained. For now, the statement does not announce an additional modification for this fuel. “The ACPM remains unchanged, in continuity with the September measure against the effects of the earthquake.”
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Government announces changes for future increases
In addition to reversing the October increase, the Government announced that upcoming decisions that may directly affect the pockets of Colombians must be explained more clearly.
“From now on, no decision that affects the pocket will be adopted without a clear, transparent and educational explanation to the country,” the ministries pointed out.
The Executive also indicated that, if a difficult measure becomes inevitable, it will be communicated in advance and accompanied by the corresponding figures.
“When a difficult measure is inevitable, it will be said in time, with figures and in plain language,” the statement says.
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For now, the decision represents a relief for consumers during October, but the Government recognized that There is still an underlying problem related to the international behavior of oil prices. and its impact on gasoline in Colombia.
For this reason, the ministries of Mines and Energy and Finance They must seek an articulated and permanent solution to this situation, “under presidential instruction.”
The Government assured that the intention is to prevent technical adjustments from reaching citizens directly without prior explanation.
“No technical adjustment will ever walk the path alone. Our first duty is to the citizen,” the statement concludes.
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This is how gasoline and ACPM prices look in September
Reference prices defined for September They remain practically unchanged compared to August in the 13 main cities of the country.
For regular gasoline, the reference average goes from $15,887 to $15,886 per gallona difference of just $1. In most cities there is no variation.
Gasoline prices. Photo:MinHacienda
In the case of regular gasoline, Cúcuta is the only one of the 13 cities that registers a modification compared to Augustgoing from $14,285 to $14,281 per gallon, that is, a reduction of $4.
For its part, ACPM reference price remains unchanged in all 13 cities. The average remains at $11,320 per gallon.
Diesel gasoline prices in September 2026. Photo:MinHacienda
Daniela Gutiérrez Munar
dangut@eltiempo.com
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