By Emmanuel T. Erediano
[email protected]
Variety News Staff
JUST two days after a 20-cent hike on Tuesday, fuel prices in the CNMI soared again Thursday night as war in the Middle East continues to escalate, with recent reports of missile attacks on oil refineries.
According to CNBC, “Overnight, oil prices broke through the $80 per barrel mark, with Brent futures up 3.54% and last trading at $84.31. U.S. West Texas Intermediate saw its biggest single day gain since May 2020 on Thursday.”
In the CNMI, Mobil Oil Marianas and Shell Marianas increased gasoline prices by 25 cents and diesel prices by 80 cents.
Mobil’s regular gasoline price rose to $5.61 a gallon from $5.36 a gallon; its Supreme gasoline price increased to $6.06 a gallon from $5.81 a gallon; and its diesel price climbed to $6.78 a gallon from $5.98 a gallon.
The highest price of gasoline the CNMI has experienced was $5.76 a gallon in March 2022, when Russia invaded Ukraine.
On Tinian and Rota, fuel prices had not increased as of Friday morning since the last price hike two days earlier.
Tinian Fuel Services’ gasoline price was still $7.399 a gallon and its diesel price $8.229 a gallon as of Friday morning, while Calvo Enterprises’ regular gasoline price on Rota remained $6.54 a gallon and diesel $9.02 a gallon.
While many residents on Saipan learned about the price increase and were able to fill their gas tanks before it happened, Shane Pangelinan, a technician, missed the chance Thursday. His car’s tank was half full on Friday morning.
In an interview, Pangelinan said that for low-income employees like him, buying gasoline for their cars would be “a struggle.” He said gasoline has now become a basic commodity that is very hard to afford if his salary remains the same.
He said he spends about $140 on gasoline every two weeks because his car is the only one he uses for work, dropping off and picking up his kids at school, and running other errands.
Emmanuel “Arnold” Erediano has a bachelor of science degree in Journalism. He started his career as police beat reporter. Loves to cook. Eats death threats for breakfast.
