ORANJESTAD (AAN) – On April 7, 2026, Minister of Finance Geoffrey Wever signed a ministerial decree after obtaining approval from the Council of Ministers. The decree was based on recent developments in international fuel prices and aims to mitigate the impact of these increases on the community and the commercial sector.
According to the new pricing system, gasoline is expected to rise by approximately 49.3 cents this month, while diesel will increase by 83.5 cents. The government recognizes that these increases are significant and directly impact the purchasing power of citizens, household financial stability, and business operations, particularly those reliant on diesel for transportation and logistics.
Minister Geoffrey Wever shared that, within this context, the Council of Ministers has approved a measure for the government to absorb half of the gasoline price increase and about half of the diesel increase. This decision aims to protect citizens’ purchasing power and promote economic sustainability by limiting the pressure on product and service prices within the economy, thereby reducing the cost of doing business.
With government intervention, the actual price increase for consumers will be significantly reduced. Without the measure, gasoline would rise by about 49.1 cents, but with the intervention, the increase will be limited to approximately 24.57 cents. For diesel, the increase will be reduced from 83.5 cents to around 45.20 cents.
Minister Wever, in collaboration with relevant institutions such as the Central Bank of Aruba (CBA), CBS, and RDA, will continue to monitor economic and international developments closely. Analyses indicate that the current price hikes are temporary, and the government will continue to assess the situation and take additional steps if necessary.
The cost of this measure is estimated at approximately 2.5 million florins per month, with 1.5 million florins allocated for gasoline and 1 million florins for diesel. To create financial space for this initiative, some public spending projects will be reprioritized, with certain projects delayed until 2027.
The government emphasizes that the fuel price increases are due to international factors beyond the direct control of the local economy. Therefore, the government views its intervention as essential to protect citizens and the economy.
Minister Wever highlighted, “Since day one, improving citizens’ purchasing power has been one of the government’s main priorities. This measure confirms our ongoing commitment to support the community and ensure economic stability during this period of global uncertainty.”
The government will provide further information during an official press conference, where the budget adjustment and strategy for the well-being of Aruba will be presented.
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