Costa Rica will see an adjustment in retail fuel prices following an increase in international fuel costs between August and September, the Public Services Regulatory Authority (Aresep) reported.

The adjustment follows a request by the state-owned Costa Rican Oil Refinery Company (Recope) to modify domestic fuel prices in response to changes in international energy markets.

Aresep said the new rates reflect updates to several pricing components calculated during fuel import negotiations conducted between Aug. 14 and Sept. 10.

Diesel recorded the largest increase among the fuels. However, authorities said supply and demand conditions in international markets caused the price of diesel to register a sharp increase, greater than that of gasoline.

Costa Rica imports 100% of its finished fuel products because Recope does not have the technology needed to refine crude oil into gasoline, diesel and other usable fuels, officials said.

The new retail fuel prices are:

• Super gasoline (RON 95): ₡764 per liter (about $1.67 per liter, or approximately $6.35 per gallon), up from ₡726.

• Regular gasoline (RON 91/Plus 91): ₡719 per liter (about $1.58 per liter, or about $5.98 per gallon), up from ₡707.

• Diesel: ₡785 per liter (about $1.72 per liter, or  $6.53 per gallon), up from ₡688.

• Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), 25-pound cylinder: ₡7,172 (about $15.76 each), up from ₡7,071.

The new prices take effect on Tuesday, October 2, after being published in the official government bulletin, La Gaceta.

In related developments, Costa Rica recently opened its first fast-charging station on the Caribbean Coast capable of simultaneously charging up to 12 electric vehicles, marking another step in expanding the nation's electric transportation infrastructure.

Aresep is the government agency responsible for regulating public service rates in Costa Rica.

Recope oversees the importation, distribution and sale of fuels.

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