As per reports, transportation companies operating semi-urban passenger routes between the Federal District and surrounding municipalities have raised concerns regarding potential service disruptions due to diesel shortages and rising operating costs as of Monday (16 March).

• The issue was formally communicated by the National Association of Intercity Semi-Urban Passenger Road Transport Companies through an official letter addressed to the National Land Transport Agency.
• According to the association, the escalation of geopolitical tensions in the Middle East has contributed to instability in the global fuel market, which has resulted in increased diesel prices and reduced availability of fuel supplies.
• The association reported that companies responsible for semi-urban passenger transport are experiencing difficulties in acquiring sufficient diesel volumes to fully supply their vehicle fleets.
• This shortage has created operational challenges that may affect the continuity and regularity of transport services that connect the Federal District with neighboring municipalities in the surrounding metropolitan area.
• These services are considered essential for daily mobility because they transport thousands of workers who rely on bus services to commute between residential areas in the surrounding region and employment centers in the Federal District.
• As international oil prices have increased beyond approximately USD 100 per barrel, transportation operators have experienced a rapid rise in operating costs. According to the association, some companies have already reported difficulties in maintaining adequate fuel supplies to sustain their normal service schedules.
• To mitigate the situation, the association proposed several emergency measures to the National Land Transport Agency. These proposals include extraordinary mechanisms to compensate for the sudden increase in fuel costs, temporary regulatory authorizations allowing operators to reduce the number of vehicles in operation in line with available diesel supply, and the implementation of emergency regulatory standards intended to ensure the continuity of public transportation services.