Santo Domingo.- The government will cancel the natural gas license issued to those who don’t  build the service stations in a timely manner, Industry and Commerce Minister José del Castillo warned Thursday.

The official said the permits issued for one year are about to expire. "On those licenses which have yet to materialize, we will be conducting a review to provide an additional minimum within a few months and if they don’t initiate the investment, they’ll be canceled and will be issued others willing to make the investments, to allow the release strategic points for investments which will in fact be made??."

He said the government issued 50 licenses to install natural gas service stations, of which only around 15have been built.

Del Castillo also defended the use of natural gas as a fuel, which he affirms saved the country US$458 million in 2011."I think that isn’t a failure, it has allowed the compensation of the oil bill to a large degree."

He added that despite increases in the fuel’s cost and limiters such as the cost to convert vehicles, its use is still very attractive.