Six private companies have authorization to freely import fuels

Six private companies They have received authorization from the Ministry of Energy and Non-Renewable Natural Resources to carry out hydrocarbon import activities. These companies are Agnamar, Corpetrolsa, Oceanbat and Marzam, who obtained the respective permit for the importation of liquid fuels. In addition, Sycar and Gasvesubio, for natural gas.

Some companies have been involved in the maritime vessel business. Marzam is a company owned by the former mayor of Manabí Mariano Zambrano, While Corpetrolsa belongs to Vicente Bustos, owner of gas stations. Meanwhile, Sycar is a foreign company that has an import project that includes building an infrastructure for barges in the Jambelí canal. Gasvesubio is owned by the Eljuri group.

According to the Ministry of Energy, the authorizations were granted after an exhaustive analysis by the Agency for the Regulation and Control of Energy and Non-Renewable Natural Resources of the documentation presented and compliance with the technical parameters contemplated in the law, regulations and regulations in force in the country.

As provided by Executive Decree No. 1158, issued on September 24, 2020, Free importation is authorized – by private companies or consortia– of any type of hydrocarbon derivatives and natural gas, which may use the infrastructure owned by EP Petroecuador, for the transport or storage of the products, in exchange for the payment of a previously agreed fee.

In the same way, companies that import fuels that are marketed in the automotive, tuna, shrimp and other fisheries segments – such as diesel 2, premium diesel, extra and extra gasoline with 85 octane ethanol – will set their prices according to the Executive Decrees 230 and 231, issued on October 22, 2021.

It is important to emphasize that the price of liquefied petroleum gas for domestic use remains at the current official price of $ 1.60 nationwide. The policy of free import of derivatives seeks that companies provide the local market with better quality fuels, targeting the standard EURO 5, for the the INEN has updated the fuel quality regulations, the ministry said.

According to Oswaldo Erazo, executive secretary of the Chamber of Petroleum Derivatives Distributors (Camddepe), the Ministry’s decision raises some doubts. In the first instance, it is not known whether these companies will import the fuel as suppliers or for their own consumption. In the second instance, it considers that while prices are frozen and the price is rising, it will be very difficult for the fuel to be imported by private parties. Additionally, it considered that at the moment it has not been socialized that there is a new regulation on the quality of fuels issued by the INEN. (I)