Refidomsa: Dominican Republic Consumes Up to 145,000 Barrels a Day and Relies on Imports

The head of Refidomsa admits the country imports most of its fuel, and the state will spend about 50 billion pesos on subsidies this year.

Samuel Pereyra, president of Refidomsa, said the Dominican Republic consumes between 140,000 and 145,000 barrels of fuel a day, a demand far above the country's local refining capacity. He made the statement this Wednesday, according to Infobae.

Pereyra explained that the refinery processes about 30,000 barrels a day of gasoline, diesel and aviation fuel. The gap between those figures forces the country to import most petroleum products, leaving it exposed to swings in international markets. "We have to import most of the fuel," he said.

According to the official, the state expects to close 2026 with roughly 50 billion Dominican pesos (USD 825,000) in fuel subsidies, aimed at limiting how much international price changes reach consumers at the pump. Pereyra called the effort "a huge sacrifice" by the state and defended the scheme as a way to cushion the impact of the global market.

In his conversation with Infobae, Pereyra also discussed a possible legal reform of the hydrocarbons sector being drafted by the Ministries of Industry and Commerce and of Finance (MICM). He said he does not yet know its content but considers it necessary to debate it. Among the points that could be revised, he mentioned how often fuel prices are set: currently the MICM sets them every Friday, and he suggested discussing whether the review should be weekly, biweekly or monthly.

The available version does not include the rest of Pereyra's remarks on the agreement with Guyana to explore an oil well. According to what Infobae does report, Refidomsa is participating as a partner, alongside a company and the Guyanese government, in a project that already holds a concession and is in the exploration stage. Pereyra warned that it is a long-term initiative with no immediate effect on supply or domestic prices.