Gas cylinder sellers adjusted prices that were out of line with government regulations limiting those values, said the National Energy Sector Organization (ENSE), which returned Wednesday to review activity.
Thus, after conducting the first inspection on Tuesday, which found “high non-compliance” in 23.4% of outlets, ENSE carried out today “108 inspection actions in Castelo Branco, Portalegre, Santarem, Evora and, in the municipalities of Cascais, Oeiras and Sintra in the Lisbon area, focusing on petrol stations, hypermarkets/supermarkets and other retailers.”
According to the organization, in the sale prices (from 0.36 euros to 3.39 euros for T3 bottles and 6.92 euros for T5 bottles) of this type of product “there were still seven violations (corresponding to 6.5% of the actions taken)”. .
However, “what emerged from these actions was mainly a correction of inconsistent prices, namely in relation to inflated amounts charged in several hypermarkets of the same brand,” he said.
“These findings alone confirm the work of ENSE and the actions of its inspection teams with the market regarding the selling prices of T3 and T5 liquefied petroleum gas cylinders,” ENSE stressed.
On Tuesday, ENSE said that “after the entry into force of Regulation No. 94, inspection actions regarding the sales prices of LPG cylinders in the areas of Lisbon, Setubal, Santarem, Leiria and Castelo Branco.”
“This action showed a high rate of non-compliance with the ordinance,” he said, “about 23.4% in the locations tested (22 locations),” highlighting “the fact that the value of sales peaked at €36.50. and 37.00 euros for bottles of 13 kg of butane and 11 kg of propane respectively – values found in several hypermarkets of the same brand.
“There were still some violations at gas stations and retail, albeit with values well below those given above,” ENSE said in a statement.
The maximum prices per bottle of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) set by the government came into effect on Tuesday, saving almost 3.2 euros on a 13 kilograms (kg) bottle of butane.
On Friday, the government reintroduced maximum prices for bottled gas, as had already happened during the covid-19 pandemic, specifying that a 13-kilogram (kg) bottle of butane would have a maximum price of €29.47 instead of 12.5 kg. bottles will cost up to 28.34 euros, according to the Energy Services Regulatory Authority (ERSE).
In the case of T3 propane LPG, the maximum ranges from 29.11 euros for an 11 kg bottle to 23.81 kg for a 9 kg bottle.
On the other hand, T5 LPG propane tanks will cost up to 109.08 euros (45 kg) or 84.84 euros (35 kg).
ENSE warned on Tuesday that “failure to comply with the values set for the maximum selling prices to the public constitutes an administrative offense punishable by a fine of between 500 and 3,740 euros in the case of individuals and between 3,500 euros and 44,890 euros for legal entities.”
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
