Santo Domingo.- Natural gas’s future as an energy source is promising because it’s the most efficient, least polluting, environmentally friendly, safest, cheapest fuel and still the most competitive despite recent price jumps.

The statement by Jesus Bolinaga, president of the country’s sole natural gas importer, comes in the heels of allegations of monopoly from transport unions, motorists and industries, who complain that the increases renege government sponsored agreements that the fuel’s price would be stable.

The CEO of AES Dominicana defended the company’s role in the local fuel market, noting that it has no influence in any price fluctuations, and that it’s the international market which sets the conditions.

Quoted by listin.com.do, Bolinaga said the government, industry and consumers, through transport, were the ones which most benefited from natural gas and had if it weren’t for its prevalence in the energy production, the electricity sector’s subsidy would’ve been around US$400.0 million more this year.

Bolinaga said as a company AES has been consistent with its growth policy in Dominican Republic and with extending the benefits of its operation to the people in general, noting however that the multinational has had its ups and downs in that process.

 He said when AES won the 20 year contract for natural gas in 2001, fuel prices weren’t attractive at the time, because the power plants were often off line when operations began. He said however that the company has been consistent with its long-term vision and supports the government in economic development.