The critical shortage of propane gas should be eased over the next few days, as a ship carrying LPG (Liquid Propane Gas) is expected to arrive today. Amaury Justo Duarte, the president of the Dominican Oil Refinery (Refidomsa), said that on 9 December another ship was also due to arrive. Justo Duarte warned that the apparent lack of supply could be due to hoarding, as the refinery has not reduced its imports of the most popular – and heavily-subsidized – fuel in the Dominican Republic. The refinery chief told reporters from Hoy that despite the lack of cash-flow, caused by the fact the government has not paid its weekly RD$50-million subsidy for the past six weeks, the plant continues to import the same amount of LPG.