The Canary Islands government has announced that the 14-cent per litre fuel subsidy, which has been applied in La Palma, La Gomera, and El Hierro, will be extended to Lanzarote and Fuerteventura in 2025. This commitment will be included in the 2025 regional budget, according to a statement from the Canary Islands government and the Lanzarote Cabildo.
The decision came after a meeting on Wednesday between the Canary Islands president, Fernando Clavijo, Lanzarote Cabildo president Oswaldo Betancort, Canary Islands vice-president Manuel Domínguez, and José Valle, president of the Chamber of Commerce for Lanzarote and La Graciosa. Both islands had previously submitted a report analysing the hydrocarbon market to justify the need for the subsidy.
The report was prepared by the Chambers of Commerce of Lanzarote, La Graciosa, and Fuerteventura, assessing whether market conditions warrant fuel price discounts to align with the rest of the Canary Islands. This move aims to provide fuel price equality across the archipelago, reducing disparities for residents and businesses in Lanzarote and Fuerteventura.
Betancort emphasised that this fuel subsidy has been requested for over a year. During the previous legislative term, 14 proposals were made to the Canary Islands Parliament to introduce a discount for Lanzarote and Fuerteventura, none of which passed.
However, the new government has listened and committed to implementing the subsidy, benefiting families, the self-employed, and businesses on both islands.
"This is a positive step towards greater equality between the islands," Betancort said, highlighting the importance of the measure in reducing fuel price differences and improving mobility for all Canary Islands residents.
