Honduras Exceeds Fuel Subsidy Budget as Global Oil Prices Rise

Finance Minister Emilio Hernández said the government’s fuel subsidy programme has already cost about 950 million lempiras, far above the 680 million lempiras originally budgeted. He attributed the overspend to the external shock from the Middle‑East conflict that pushed oil prices higher, affecting fuel, energy and basic‑food costs. Hernández announced that the Treasury will reallocate funds, tap contingency reserves and consider additional public financing for the electricity utility ENEE if legislative reforms are approved.

Deputy Eder Mejía of the National Party disclosed the creation of a new emergency budget line, designated partida 109, worth roughly 5.2 million lempiras. He pledged that every expenditure from this fund will be made public to guarantee transparency, replacing the former line 449 and serving as a financial cushion for unforeseen emergencies.

Both measures aim to sustain the Honduran population’s access to essential services amid volatile global energy markets while enhancing fiscal oversight.