Rafael Inácio, president of ATA, said that the current 150 kwanzas charged for each trip no longer cover the costs of taxi activity in the country, noting that the rise in diesel prices has a negative impact on the activity.
"This measure [increase in the price of a liter of diesel to 200 kwanzas] will have a negative impact on our activity," he said.
Speaking to Lusa, the ATA leader stated that the acquisition of spare parts and maintenance of the well-known "blue and white" taxis (vehicles that provide private taxi service in the country) further increased the costs of the activity.
"That's why the current 150 kwanzas no longer cover it, that's why I say again that the increase in taxi fares is irreversible, it will be a fact and should happen in the next few days", he stressed without advancing dates or tariff proposals, claiming it was still "premature".
The official noted that associations in the sector are already negotiating with the Ministries of Transport, through the National Land Transport Agency, and Finance, in order to find an "ideal price" to respond to the demand and concerns of taxi drivers given the current reality.
Rafael Inácio insisted that the current 150 kwanzas do not cover the cost structure of the activity, considering that taxi drivers are today increasingly impoverished in the face of an "outdated" fare.
"We guarantee that, in the next few days, the taxi segment will see new prices, then we will be able to communicate the price, but in the consultation we had in the largest taxi ranks across the country, members even asked for the taxi fare to be adjusted", he highlighted.
Asked whether the new tariff should vary between 200 kwanzas and 300 kwanzas as is advertised in various social circles, Rafael Inácio said it was "premature" to give numbers because their definition requires "a lot of calm and wisdom".
"I don't want to give numbers in order not to sin, but to guarantee that the 150 kwanzas will no longer be effective", concluded the president of ATA.
Diesel oil rose on Monday at 00:00 from 135 kwanzas to 200 kwanzas per liter, according to the Petroleum Derivatives Regulatory Institute.
The price of other products, under a fixed price regime, namely gasoline, illuminating oil and liquefied petroleum gas, remained unchanged.
The Government decided to gradually adjust petroleum products to market levels by 2025, starting the process with the change in the price of gasoline in June 2023, which went from 160 kwanzas to the current 300 kwanzas.
