The world trend for a decline in petroleum prices is about the best news the Dominican Republic could receive these days. Amaurys Justo Duarte, president of the Dominican Petroleum Refinery, told the Listin Diario that the drop could mean a relief of US$500 million in the payments the country had planned to make on fuel imports this year, the same amount the government is seeking to receive with the issuing of sovereign bonds. He said that the government budgeted spending US$1,900 million on fuel imports, and that it is possible the fuel bill will be US$1,400 or US$1,500 million instead, taking into consideration a daily consumption of 150,000 barrels.
