Though a complete national gasoline shortage was prevented, many gas stations are still without diesel fuel, leading to more questions as to when the problem would be completely solved. Last week the country was in a state of panic as many as 98% of all gas stations were without fuel, but service returned to normal over the weekend following the arrival of two oil tankers from Texas and Venezuela. Nonetheless, many service stations are still experiencing diesel fuel shortages. Listin Diario reports that 95% of all gas stations in Santiago and the Cibao region do not have diesel. Ruben Montas, president of the Dominican Refineries SA (Refidomsa) is quoted by Listin Diario as saying that normal consumption of diesel fuel is 840,000 gallons per day, but that recently more than 1 million gallons per day were being disbursed. The fuel shortages have affected banana exports in the northeast region, public transport and farming work while tourism in Puerto Plata has also been affected.
The Ministry of Industry and Commerce has announced that importer Coastal will be bringing 3,570,000 gallons of diesel fuel to the country in the next few days.