Fares in Mykolaiv may change due to expensive diesel

The rise in diesel prices has increased the expenses of municipal enterprise “Mykolaivpastrans”, and officials in Mykolaiv are considering a possible review of transport fares. Fuel prices, the carrier’s finances and bus operations were discussed on November 9 at an administrative meeting at Mykolaiv City Council.

When Mayor Oleksandr Sienkevych asked about the enterprise’s financial results, its director, Dmytro Danilenko, explained how significant the difference had become between the actual price of diesel and the price factored into the fare.

“Unfortunately, the rise in diesel prices has hit us hard. We are spending an additional 2.5 million hryvnias or more every month because of the difference in the cost of diesel fuel. The fare calculation uses a price of 52 hryvnias and 20 kopecks per liter,” Dmytro Danilenko explained.

The mayor also asked about the latest purchase price. The director said it was 90 hryvnias and 89 kopecks per liter.

“Private carriers have already contacted me about this situation. They all run on diesel. I asked the Department of Transport to prepare the calculations and push as far as possible for a fare change,” said Mayor Oleksandr Sienkevych.

When the mayor asked whether the calculations were ready, the Department of Transport said they had been completed. A decision on the matter is planned and is currently being reviewed by the department. The issue is a possible fare review, not a fare change that has already been approved.

The enterprise has also prepared a reserve of fuel for emergencies.

“We have 20 tonnes of diesel fuel. We have arranged with the supplier to store it in case of a blackout or other emergency,” said Dmytro Danilenko.

Oleksandr Sienkevych also asked how many buses the enterprise puts on its routes each day and how many of them are new. The director gave the following figures:

• total number of buses deployed on routes each day — 49;
• of the 26 new buses, 23 are in service;
• all the new buses have received permission to operate.

Since October 5, under an executive committee decision, municipal enterprise “Mykolaivpastrans” has been the temporary carrier on city route No. 27 to Mala Korenykha, pending a competition. The Antimonopoly Committee suspects a violation and has opened a case.

We also wrote:

• Mykolaiv executive committee appoints carrier without a competition: Antimonopoly Committee opens a case
• “Mykolaivpastrans” to run route No. 27 to Korenykha: fare — 30 hryvnias
• Up to 30 hryvnias per ride: Mykolaiv transport fares have jumped like Mahuchikh
• There are 70 buses, but only 35 are running, with no accounting for fuel or passengers: how municipal enterprise “Mykolaivpastrans” operates
• Mykolaiv minibus operators ask the city council to raise fares again