---
title: "Panama transport fuel subsidy launches with 600 beneficiaries and 21,000 registered"
date: 2026-04-15
author: ""
url: https://panamadaily.news/panama-fuel-subsidy-transport-launch/
categories:
  - "Economy"
  - "News"
tags:
  - "ATTT"
  - "diesel prices"
  - "fare stability"
  - "Panamá Conecta"
  - "Panama fuel subsidy"
  - "transport sector"
---

# Panama transport fuel subsidy launches with 600 beneficiaries and 21,000 registered

## What Happened

Panama’s fuel subsidy for the transport sector began on Wednesday, April 15, with more than 600 transport operators receiving the benefit from the early morning hours, according to the Transit and Land Transportation Authority, known as the ATTT.

The program covers selective, collective, school, and fishing transport, with the aim of preventing fare increases from being passed on to consumers. Tourism and cargo transport will be fully included starting Friday.

The subsidy sets maximum prices of $0.88 per liter for 91-octane gasoline, $0.90 for diesel, and $1.00 for 95-octane gasoline.

## How the Program Works

The subsidy is applied directly at the fuel station through the Panamá Conecta platform, which checks the eligibility of both the vehicle and the driver in real time. Officials said the system is designed to track who receives the subsidy, when it is used, how it is applied, and how much fuel is consumed.

An example presented during the launch showed a transport operator filling 200 liters of fuel for a total cost of $270, receiving a $90 subsidy and paying $180.

The Ministry of Economy and Finance will pay the petroleum companies directly after the fuel consumption is validated. The program is set to run for an initial 10 months.

## Transport Workers Feel the Relief

At a gas station near Gran Estación, Eduardo, a driver on the Villa Grecia route toward Panama Norte, said the subsidy gives him a direct break in his daily operating costs. He said his fuel spending had been around $100 to $105 per day, but with the subsidy it drops to about $60 or $65.

Eduardo, who has worked in public transport for more than 30 years, said the lower diesel bill could leave him with daily earnings of between $10 and $20. He added that the program’s early start at 6:00 a.m. should allow more drivers to benefit as the day progresses.

Government Minister Dinoska Montalvo said the fuel dispatch system is intended to prevent fare increases from reaching passengers. She also highlighted the use of security and traceability controls to ensure transparency and avoid irregularities seen in previous programs.

## Registration Continues to Rise

ATTT director Nicolás Brea said that more than 21,000 transport operators had registered on the digital platform by Wednesday morning, and that number was still increasing. He said new registrations were coming in at a rate of about 1,000 transport operators per hour.

Brea said the national transport sector includes about 77,000 operators. He also stressed that the system automatically checks compliance, including whether the vehicle has an up-to-date 2026 plate and a valid operating certificate. If the certificate is missing, the subsidy is not approved.

Officials urged transport operators to follow the rules and reminded users to report any illegal fare increases. The government says the measure is meant to soften the impact of higher fuel prices on transport costs and help keep fares stable for passengers across Panama.