The Antigua and Barbuda

government

will continue controlling the price of cooking gas despite pressure from the West Indies Oil Company for an increase, Prime Minister Gaston Browne has said.

Browne gave the assurance Saturday on the Browne and Browne Show on Pointe FM amid concerns that the planned increases in gasoline and diesel prices could also affect liquefied petroleum gas, commonly called cooking gas.

The prime minister said the government’s immediate price adjustment would apply only to gasoline and diesel.

“We continue to keep propane gas under price control and to deliberately keep the prices down,” Browne said.

According to Browne, the West Indies Oil Company has pushed for an increase in cooking gas prices for several years.

He said the government believes the company may be sustaining a loss on the product because the retail price has been kept below its actual cost.

Despite that concern, Browne indicated that the administration intends to continue shielding households from higher cooking gas costs.

His assurance came as the government prepared to increase gasoline and diesel prices by approximately EC$2 per gallon.

Browne said the fuel increase had become necessary because the government could no longer afford to maintain its subsidy on gasoline and diesel.

Cooking gas will not be included in the planned adjustment.

This article was originally published by Antigua News Room. Read the original article here: Cooking Gas Prices to Remain Controlled Despite Pressure for Increase.