Energy

Economic supervision

Since there is no specific legislation for the delivery of fuel products in Curaçao yet, as is the case for electricity and drinking water and as a result of which a concession for this is not required, the supervision on the provision of fuel is mainly based on economic supervision. The starting points for this are laid down in the Prices Ordinance 1961 (Official Gazette 1961, no. 117).

The spearhead of economic supervision is the affordability, availability and sustainability of the fuels. This last spearhead does not only refer to as little as possible burden on the environment, but it is also about providing fuel in accordance with the adopted criteria regarding quality. Relevant thereto, the Prices Ordinance 1961 facilitates the process of pricing for goods and services and as such, also the establishment of fuel tariffs.

In this respect, the regulation refers to the adoption of maximum prices by the government. In the scope of the regulation, the 4 fixed components in pricing are also kept into account. These are the turnover tax in connection with services provided, excise tax, the Curoil margin and the gas station operator margin. The components turnover tax and excise tax are subject to the National Ordinance for the amendment of the turnover tax, the procedural tax law and appurtenant national tax ordinances (Official Gazette 2013, no. 50) and the National Ordinance tax provisions 2011, (Official Gazette 2011, no.72) respectively.

You may download these ordinances and decrees for inspection here.

* Note: This National Ordinance has not yet been adapted to the new constitutional structure effective as from 10 October 2010.