From Friday, May 17, 2019, “gas” will have a fixed price for each of the types of cylinders that are sold in the country.
This means that the cost will be the same in all establishments where the product is sold, similar to that for gasoline.
The latest prices for gas authorized by the Autoridad Reguladora de Servicios Públicos (Aresep) is as follows:
- 10 lbs: ¢2,993
- 20 lbs: ¢5,985 (typically used for bbq)
- 25 lbs: ¢7,482 (the most used in the country, typically used in homes)
- 35 lbs: ¢10,475
- 60 lbs: ¢17,956
- 100 lbs: ¢29,927
Currently, a cylinder of gas can vary from one retailer to the next due to the illegal practice known as “hormiguero”, that is discounts for large quantity purchases and then resold to consumers at higher prices.
According to the Aresep, they have found that the volume buyers then transport the cylinders in private vehicles without complying with the security measures in place for the safe handling of gas cylinders.
The regulator says it has also found cases of vendors (unsafely) rebottling, that is, they remove the gas and transfer them illegally and dangerously to other cylinders, selling them with a lower weight and at a higher price.
All this encourages illegal competition and the risk of leaks and accidents.
To eliminate the foregoing, the Aresep will require bottlers to sign contracts with distributors and marketers that have the authorization of Ministry of the Environment and Energy (Minae) and the Ministry of Health to sell gas to the public or retailers.
For more information visit the Aresep website (in Spanish).
