He gasoline and diesel subsidy in Guatemala will begin to be reflected in the sales prices from May 1in the midst of the authorities’ challenge to ensure that resources directly benefit users.
According to projections, the State will disburse on average Q22.2 million dailywith an estimated validity of up to three months or until funds are exhausted.
The benefit will be:
- Q8 per gallon of diesel
- Q5 per gallon of higher gasoline
How will the discount be applied?
The regulations establish that the discount of fuel subsidy must be applied from the importer. That is, the subsidized amount is subtracted from the price of fuel before it is sold.
The Superintendence of Tax Administration (SAT) and the Ministry of Energy and Mines (MEM) They will define the controls to verify the application of the subsidy. Furthermore, the MEM must publish the reference priceswhich will serve to verify that the discount reaches the consumer.
For its part, the Directorate of Consumer Care and Assistance (Diaco) will enable a complaint mechanism to report irregularities.
| Stage | What’s happening? |
| Importer | Apply the fuel subsidy subtracting the amount (Q8 diesel / Q5 gasoline) from the price before selling it. |
| Distribution | The already discounted fuel is transferred to service stations. |
| Gas station | You must maintain the discount and reflect it in the sales price. |
| Consumer | Pay a lower final price when you stock up. |
| Control | The Superintendence of Tax Administration (SAT) and the Ministry of Energy and Mines (MEM) They supervise that the subsidy is applied correctly. |
| Complaint and protection | The Directorate of Consumer Care and Assistance (DIACO) receives reports from users about prices that do not reflect the subsidy or possible irregularities. |
“Alerta Diaco – Fuel Subsidy” the means of Control and complaints
To ensure that the benefit reaches the consumer, the Directorate of Consumer Care and Assistance (Diaco) will implement a complaint mechanism called “Diaco Alert – Fuel Subsidy”.
This tool will allow you to report service stations that do not respect the reference prices of the MEM or that present irregularities in the application of the subsidy.
Will Diaco Alert – Fuel be an app?
The Diaco clarified that it is not a downloadable application, but rather a digital button available on its official website. Although the institution has not detailed the exact location of the tool within the portal, it did release the image of the button that will allow users to identify it.
The objective is to facilitate the receipt of complaints about fuel pricescentralize information and streamline verification processes.
Since when will it be available?
The system will be enabled from the same May 1date on which the subsidy comes into force, to allow complaints from the beginning of the measure.
Diaco Alert – Fuel subsidy, where to find it and what data must be entered?
Users will be able to enter through the official portal of the Diaco: www.diaco.gob.gtfrom any device with an internet connection.
By clicking on the button, a form will be displayed in which you must complete key information such as:
- Service station location
- Additional relevant details
This format will allow complaints to be processed more efficiently.
What irregularities can be reported?
The channel will be focused exclusively on the fuel subsidyincluding:
- Prices that do not coincide with the reference values of the MEM
- Failures in the application of the subsidy
- Possible abuses at service stations
The authorities indicate that the objective is to strengthen inspection and promote citizen participation in price surveillance.