A commission of high-ranking members of the government has begun a review of the contract between the Dominican Petroleum Refinery (REFIDOMSA) and the Shell International oil company, which has operated REFIDOMSA under the current agreement since 1969. The purpose, as expressed in presidential decree No. 410-96, is to give the government “more mechanisms to supervise, finance and control the operations of REFIDOMSA”.
Under the contract signed between the two parties in 1969, Shell and the government each hold 50% of its shares, with the former holding administrative control of the refinery. The commission, headed by REFIDOMSA’s president Radhames Segura, is currently engaged on a “work plan” (Plan de Trabajo) to be presented to President Fernandez and later to Shell’s representative in the D.R., Pedro Pablo Cabral.
One of the main points of discussion regarding the policies of REFIDOMSA is the criteria used to fix the price of fuel in the D.R., whether on existing prices in the rest of the Caribbean or on additional costs.
It has been estimated that the fuel surcharge will contribute RD$4000 million to the government in 1996, compared to RD$2730 million in 1995.