"It was a reasonable adjustment, because it could have been more, [so] it was made based on this fuel price adjustment," said Énio Costa, chairman of the ANTT board of directors, when asked by Lusa about society's reaction to the new prices established for public transportation.
At issue are the new fares for urban public passenger road transport, adjusted after the increase, eight days ago, in the price of diesel, which rose from 300 to 400 kwanzas per liter, as part of the government's gradual withdrawal of fuel subsidies, which began in 2023.
According to Énio Costa, the country faces challenges, and companies have a cost structure that they need to offset with current fuel prices.
"And it was basically with this in mind that this adjustment was made," he said, emphasizing that it was necessary not to harm companies, otherwise they would face "situations of loss-making companies, which is also not ideal."
Énio Costa, speaking on the sidelines of the 2nd Transportation and Logistics Forum, organized by Jornal Expansão, with the theme "The New Airport as a Hub of Economic Development for the Country," said that it is not a significant adjustment, "but what is necessary" to achieve a balance between companies and users of these services.
Regarding the price increase, Angolans have expressed various reactions, considering the tariffs set by the government to be high. A demonstration has been announced this Saturday to protest the current prices.
When asked about these reactions, Énio Costa considered that "it is normal for these types of positions to occur, however, it was necessary to achieve a balance between families, who need to travel, and the companies themselves, for the normal operation of these activities."
ANTT increased the price of the collective taxi service (occasional passenger transport) from 200 to 300 kwanzas and the fare for the urban bus service from 150 to 200 kwanzas, leaving the tariff adjustments to be made to the intermunicipal passenger service to the discretion of the local government bodies.
