QCOSTARICA — Costa Rica’s public services regulatory authority – Autoridad Reguladora de los Servicios Públicos (ARESEP) – revealed that a total of 16 service stations across the country experienced operational irregularities, according to the 2024 Liquid Fuel Service Quality Report.
Among the findings, some fuels exhibited a different color, which occurs when gasoline is mixed. Gas stations were selling a mixture with regular gasoline at a premium price due to this combination.
According to the Aresep, in cases where the octane rating is met, there is no direct damage to the vehicle of the customer who refuels. However, there are always tariff consequences, since the fuel is mixed with a lower-priced product.
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The results of the report were obtained after 849 inspections at 419 gas pumps across the country.
All stations undergo inspections to ensure that the products meet physical and chemical specifications, that the correct amount is dispensed per hose, that the price charged corresponds to the authorized price, that there is continuity in operations, and that physical safety is guaranteed to prevent fires or any other incidents. Compliance with regulatory guidelines is also verified, detailed the ARESEP.
List of gas stations and problems detected by Aresep
- Fersol Service Station, in San Isidro de El General: They refused to allow the scheduled inspection.
- Service Station Avenida 10, Hospital District, San José: They added coloring to the premium gasoline, which also had a different octane rating than established by regulations.
- Costanera Veintisiete Service Station, in La Ceiba de Orotina: They added coloring to the premium gasoline.
- V & J Service Station, in Sarchí Sur: The temperature recorded in the diesel was lower than established by regulations.
- La Fortuna Gas Station, in La Fortuna de San Carlos: They added coloring to the premium gasoline.
- Serviarmo Service Station, in Upala: Diesel temperature lower than stipulated by regulations.
- Río Cuarto de Grecia Service Station, in Río Cuarto: They did not have diesel for sale to the public.
- BLC & Hermanos López Service Station, in Los Chiles: They did not have diesel for sale to the public.
- Transportes Hermanos Orozco Service Station, in Turrialba: Diesel temperature lower than regulated.
- Molina y Robles LTDA Service Station, in San Rafael de Oreamuno: One of the hoses registered more diesel than was actually delivered to the customer.
- La Tica Service Station, in San Nicolás de Cartago: They refused to allow the scheduled inspection.
- El Labrador Ecological Service Station, in San Isidro de Heredia: They did not have regular gasoline for sale to the public.
- Las Marías Gas Station in Puerto Viejo de Sarapiquí: They did not have diesel, and during a second inspection, they did not have regular gasoline for sale.
- Marina Papagayo Service Station in Nacascolo, Liberia: They failed to comply with the sales price for premium gasoline and diesel.
- Monteverde M.D.S. Gas Stations in Monteverde, Puntarenas: They did not have premium gasoline for sale to the public.
Special Case: Gas Station in San Pedro de Poás, Alajuela. The ARESEP highlighted the case of a service station in San Pedro de Poás, which presented multiple irregularities in different inspections:
- Visit 1 (June 27, 2024): One hose registered a quantity higher than the actual amount dispensed. Furthermore, they did not have diesel for sale to the public.
- Visit 2 (July 30, 2024): They did not have premium or regular gasoline.
- Visit 3 (September 2, 2024): There was no regular or premium gasoline for sale.
- Visit 4 (October 2, 2024): There was a persistent shortage of both types of gasoline.
- Visit 5 (November 13, 2024): Diesel was not available to the public.
What are the sanctions?
The ARESEP press office explained that, after detecting the irregularities, the following process was followed:
- Closure of the hose with the detected problem.
- The service station must explain the situation and implement a remedial plan.
- Presentation of a certification from a chemical engineer guaranteeing the correction of the problem.
- New verification inspection.
- Opening of an administrative sanctioning process for the recorded noncompliance.
Although all the problems have been resolved, sanctioning processes were initiated, including financial penalties to the amount of damage caused, and if this cannot be determined, the fines range from ¢2,311,000 to ¢9,244,000 colones.
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Furthermore, in the event of a repeat offense, the stations risk losing their fuel sales license.
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