As of 12 April, an increase in the price of unleaded motor fuel was expected in the major filling stations of Santo Domingo. A RD$2.20 rise in the price of the “sin plomo” will take it to RD26.20 per gallon. The increase is a result of a RD$2.00 increment on the price charged by the Dominican Petroleum Refinery to the major oil companies operating in the D.R. The president of the refinery, Licelot Marte de Barrios, justified the increase charged to the oil companies by stating that it has been dictated by changes in the international petroleum market that occurred in March. She said, however, that she expects the price on the international market to return to its pre-March level, which in turn could put the price of unleaded fuel back to RD$24.00 per gallon. According to data released by the Refinery, in 1995, unleaded fuel represented 27% of sales. In the first three months of 1996, that figure rose to 29%.
19-25 April 1996