The gas stations have denounced this Thursday in a statement that they are "on the verge of closing" due to the "uncertainty about the payment" of the 20 cents discount that they advance to users and that they should be reimbursed from the Treasury, something that they have not received " more than half of the service stations".

In a joint note, the associations of retail fuel and fuel sellers (AEVECAR) and the service station owners (CEEES) state that "there is no response from the Ministry of Finance as to when the amounts will be collected. advanced" which "is causing serious damage to companies, whatever their size". They reproach the Executive for "lack of sensitivity" and that the Treasury has not given written answers to the requests of the sector in the meetings they have had.

The Minister of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda, Raquel Sánchez, has responded this afternoon that she understands the uncertainty due to the delays, but has promised to speed up the return "doubling efforts" and has guaranteed that all payments will be made. "The gas stations will get that money," she said.

In this context of difficulties, from the sector it is stated that the incidence is especially notable in small operators, "doomed to closure if they do not get paid imminently".

Businessmen are not against the bonus, "beneficial for consumers", but they do note that "it is proving very detrimental to gas stations due to its poor design and worse execution." As a result, in each autonomy there are different systems -some request sales receipts- and the refueling invoices do not meet the requirements and can lead to sanctions. To this is added that they have requested credits to advance the bonus, they have spent on computers for the issuance of invoices and they have assumed extra personnel expenses due to the pull in demand. The result, "a situation that can be defined as economic suffocation, administrative chaos and legal insecurity."

The statement takes the opportunity to reject the idea that they are raising prices artificially to keep the 20 cents subsidy, as some members of the Government have criticized, they say. Something that "creates a situation of discomfort and casts the shadow of suspicion on an entire group", for which respect is requested. They defend that "they make an enormous effort and sacrifice every day so that consumers can benefit from the bonus", "at the cost of putting the survival of their businesses at risk".