In response to the complaints of overregulation and extortion filed by the Gasolineros Unidos por México (Gasolineros Unidos por México) group, President Claudia Sheinbaum stated at her August 18 press conference that the Ministry of Energy (Sener) does not officially recognize the organization nor has it held meetings with its representatives.
The president emphasized that the federal government holds regular meetings with leading business leaders in the gasoline sector, with the goal of streamlining administrative procedures and consolidating voluntary agreements to prevent fuel price increases.
“This is not a group that has met with the authorities, despite meetings with the country’s leading gas station owners to reduce gas station procedures and maintain this voluntary agreement to prevent gasoline price increases,” the president stated when questioned about the complaints filed by the organization.
What is the Gasolineros Unidos por México (Gasolineros Unidos por México) group demanding of Claudia Sheinbaum?
The Gasolineros Unidos por México (Gasolineros Unidos por México), a group made up of business leaders in the gasoline sector, denounced in an advertisement published in the newspaper Reforma that it is subject to a policy of overregulation, disproportionate sanctions, and acts of extortion allegedly committed by officials in charge of regulating the national energy system.
Among the agencies targeted by the group are the Agency for Safety, Energy, and Environment (ASEA), the National Energy Commission (CNE), and state delegates of the Attorney General’s Office (FGR).
The organization emphasized that, far from being corrected, these practices intensified during the administration of former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, creating a climate of growing legal uncertainty for those dedicated to operating service stations.
“This environment has generated growing legal and operational uncertainty, directly affecting those of us who have opted to work within the law. Far from improving, the situation has worsened: today it is more difficult and riskier to operate a service station than a doctor’s office, due to the lack of efficiency and administrative simplification you promised us,” the group stated in its announcement.
Gasolineros Unidos por México urged President Claudia Sheinbaum to open a channel of direct dialogue between the federal government and business leaders in the sector, in order to fulfill the promises made regarding streamlining procedures and regulating service stations.
“You publicly committed to energy sector business leaders to simplify regulations, reduce paperwork, and streamline procedures. That promise, unfortunately, has not been kept. Not only has there been no progress in regulatory improvements, but authorities have taken advantage of the excessive requirements and lack of clarity to further extort the sector.”
In the statement, the group also requested that investigations be initiated against energy sector officials and representatives of the Attorney General’s Office (FGR) accused of alleged extortion practices. They also requested that the dialogue with the federal government include measures to improve Pemex’s financial situation, which has recently faced claims for debts owed to suppliers.
Source: elfinanciero
