The much-ballyhooed government plan to reduce fuel consumption in the Dominican Republic, announced by President Leonel Fernandez last September is simply not working. The only measure that is working is the revamping of the “publico” system, where the cars work one day and the other half work the next. But looking at the overall package of measures laid out by the chief executive, one has been rescinded and others have not even gone into effect. The restrictions on fuel sales, including propane gas, reportedly produced a 34% decrease in fuel consumption in October, according to the Hydrocarbon Department of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce reports. In the case of the restricted sales hours for fuels, the initial measure had to be altered to allow fuel sales on Sundays and holidays, and, after the Christmas holidays, it was rescinded after some confusion. None of the other provisos of the energy saving plan have been implemented. These include the non-use of government vehicles on the weekends, the installation of “intelligent” traffic lights, a mass transit lane on the major streets and avenues, a 20% reduction of the energy used by each and every ministry, the conversion of city buses to diesel, and the creation of fixed bus stops for obligatory use by all public transport. The removal of all speed bumps was also part of the plan, except near schools.
According to Listin Diario, none of these conditions have so far been met, not even the reduced working day for the banking sector, which was supposed to produce savings of RD$500 million per year. Many banks have gone back to their normal working hours. Furthermore, the legislation needed to stimulate alternate energy in the country has stagnated in Congress. Among the alternative energy plans on hold are a 110-megawatt wind farm along the North Coast and another one in Bani.