Author: Ramona Ordoñez

Source: O Globo, 20/07/2007

The director-general of the National Petroleum Agency (ANP), Haroldo Lima, reported yesterday that gasoline sold in the state of Rio outside specifications, that is, adulterated, fell from 7,2% in the first quarter of the year to 5,4 % in June. Despite the drop, the rate of non-compliance with gasoline sold in the state is still above the national average, which was 3,2%.

To increase the fight against the sale of adulterated fuels and tax evasion, the ANP signed a technical cooperation agreement yesterday with the State Government of Rio. The agreement will allow for joint action between the ANP and the Finance Secretariat.

Rio's Finance Secretary, Joaquim Levy, who participated in the signing of the agreement, said he did not know the exact volume of tax evasion in the fuel sector, but pointed out that only one company that benefited from the ICMS deferral when buying gasoline at the Manguinhos Refinery was responsible for an estimated collection loss of R $ 6 million per month.

ANP complains that previous government did not make an agreement

At the ceremony, Haroldo Lima criticized the previous governments of Rosinha and Garotinho, who, according to him, did not accept to enter into an agreement with the ANP to combat tax evasion.

”In Rio de Janeiro we have tried for some time to make this agreement and we have not succeeded. In several states we did it, and not in Rio - highlighted Haroldo Lima.

According to the director general of the ANP, the level of adulteration of gasoline in the state differs greatly between regions. In Niterói, São Gonçalo and Itaboraí, it reaches 5,5%, while in Duque de Caxias, Nova Iguaçu and São João de Meriti, the level of adulterated gasoline is 8,3%.

In the city of Rio, the region with the highest rate of non-conformity in gasoline is the one that includes the neighborhoods of Bonsucesso, Penha and Irajá, which reaches the rate of 8,6%. In Ilha do Governador, Botafogo and Tijuca, the rate is 1,8%.