Gasoline recovery: MP from Amazonas will investigate alleged abuses at gas stations

After the partial re-encumbrance of fuels, it is expected that a liter of gasoline would be around R$ 0.34 more expensive at stations across the country. In Manaus (AM), however, consumers were surprised with an increase of R$ 1 per liter, that is 0.66 more than expected, or 194%, in percentage terms.

For this reason, the Public Prosecutor’s Office of Amazonas instituted an Administrative Procedure to investigate alleged abusive practices by gas stations in the capital of Amazonas.

Procon-AM has also been monitoring prices with inspections and issuance of Infraction Notices.

CNN’s production analyzed data from the National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels (ANP) and found that, in just one month, the price of common gasoline in the state of Amazonas increased by 11.6%.

According to the ANP, between February 26th and March 4th, the average price of gasoline in Brazil was R$5.25. In Amazonas, in the same period, the average was R$ 5.67. But, in the capital of Amazonas, what drivers have seen in practice is that most stations are charging much more expensive than that: R$ 6.59 per liter.

The period of fuel increase in disparity with the national one happens after the privatization of Refinaria Isaac Sabbá (Reman), located in Manaus and formerly belonging to Petrobras. The refinery was bought by the Atem Group.

In a note, the refinery informs that, last Wednesday (1st), the refinery announced a new price reduction for gasoline A by 4.51%, and the various types of diesel oil between 2.18% and 2.25% for distributors. According to the company, it is the seventh reduction in the prices of products sold to distributors in three months since Ream took over the management of Refinaria da Amazônia, in December last year.