A recent nationwide audit ordered by the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MICM) has revealed that 143 gas stations in the Dominican Republic are failing to meet the minimum octane quality standards for premium and regular gasoline.
The inspections, conducted by the specialized firm AIVEPET S.R.L., evaluated the Research Octane Number (RON) at 1,033 stations across the country. The findings, published on the MICM official website, indicate that approximately 14% of the nation’s fuel pumps are dispensing gasoline that falls below the regulated threshold of 94.5 octane.
Major brands topping the non-compliance list
According to the MICM report, several major fuel retailers were identified as having the highest frequency of substandard fuel. The breakdown by brand for stations failing quality tests is as follows:
• Shell: 24 stations
• Texaco: 18 stations
• Petronan: 17 stations
• Next: 16 stations
• Rilix: 7 stations
• Ecopetróleo: 6 stations
• Sol Petróleo: 3 stations
• Sigma: 1 station
• Grupo Arcenio: 1 station
Technical breakdown and geographic reach
The data specifies that 101 stations were flagged for low-quality premium gasoline, while 42 stations were found to be selling regular gasoline with insufficient octane levels.
The irregularities were not localized to a single region but were discovered in 23 provinces and the National District. Key affected areas include:
• Greater Santo Domingo: National District and Santo Domingo province.
• Northern Region: Santiago, Puerto Plata, Duarte (San Francisco de Macorís), Valverde, Espaillat, María Trinidad Sánchez, and Hermanas Mirabal.
• Southern Region: San Cristóbal, Peravia, Barahona, San Juan, Pedernales, Independencia (Jimaní), Bahoruco, and Azua.
• Eastern Region: La Altagracia, La Romana, El Seibo, and Sánchez Ramírez.
Regulatory context
The MICM emphasized that the Dominican fuel market operates under a strictly regulated framework covering importation, storage, land transport, and final sale. Technical inspection reports are generated at every stage of the supply chain to ensure a verifiable baseline for regulatory evaluations. These latest results serve as an objective measure to ensure consumer protection and transparency in the retail fuel sector.
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El Nuevo Diario
14 April 2026