ANADEGAS backed into corner

[NewsWhore]

Yesterday Industry and Commerce Minister Melanio Paredes guaranteed the sale of fuel and has received the support of fuel distributors Shell, Texaco and Esso. Paredes' comments came after Anadegas, the independent gas station owners association, threatened to shut down most of the country's gasoline stations if the government did not provide a positive response to all the complaints that have been registered over the years. Paredes described Anadegas' threat as treacherous, because it would greatly affect the rhythm of Dominican life. Although Paredes rejected Anadegas' threats he did concede that some were reasonable, adding that there should be a dialogue in order to reach an agreement. Hoy writes that fuel services have been shut off in the south, north and eastern parts of the country, but that there have been no problems in Santo Domingo due to the wealth of options. Paredes said that Anadegas was not the beast it was before and that there were other fuel options. Miguel A. Estapan, Esso general manager said that the increased use of liquid petroleum gas (LPG, or propane) in vehicles has definitely affected Anadegas, and that as a result they have lost the sale of 105 million gallons of fuel in the last five years. Estapan added that the situation needed to be resolved, and that Texaco, Esso and Shell don't agree with Anadegas' actions and have agreed to stay open. He said that gas stations would only be closed if citizens were in danger. In their defense, Listin Diario writes that Paredes didn't meet an Anadegas delegation that went to visit him yesterday, and this is why nothing has been settled. Anadegas president Sandra Watley denied that stations are on strike, while stating that owners had the right to defend their businesses.

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