Paraguay: Gas station owners upset by price regulation

Milner Avalos, representing the Association of Service Station Owners and Operators (APESA), has declared his sector’s discomfort over a new set of pricing tables imposed by the government on the sale of fuel.

“It’s an unwelcome surprise for all of us. Common gasoil has been regulated for a while, ever since the dictatorship. That we all agree on, because it’s a fuel with heavy social implications. But common gasolines were free to play through supply and demand. Now, from one day to the next the State is setting prices,” he said.

The businessman continued, pointing out that the sector is accustomed to working without regulation, making the change a nasty surprise. “What we don’t want is to be harmed by this. I don’t understand this, and we’re all scared by this issue. This could be accepted from Maduro’s government, or in Bolivia. But not in a democratic country” he added. Mr Ávalos concluded by saying he felt the authorities had taken the decision too lightly, although he will abide by the government’s ruling.

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