They are demanding from the government more transparency in the management of fuel purchases and more information on how the market will be organized with the participation of the Venezuelan entity.
The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of El Salvador has expressed concern about the interference that Petrocaribe and the Venezuelan government could have on El Salvador and has asked the government for greater transparency about how fuel imports will be handled once the agreement enters into force.
The company owned by Venezuela and a group of municipalities from the ruling party continue to diversify; now they sell water and finance housing projects.
The Alba business conglomerate announced through José Luis Merino, Alba Petróleos advisor and coordinator of the ruling FMLN party, that it is to add a new business to those already it established in El Salvador since it came into the country in 2006.
Three stores are part of proposed investment of $40 million, which also includes agricultural production and materials for farming basic grains.
The first sales area for Alba Supermarkets will open in two months and will be located in an annex of the gas station in the town of Quelepa, San Miguel. There "... the company will sell basic grain produce along with groceries, meat and staples of various domestic and foreign brands at different prices", reported Elsalvador.com.
Vuelos Económicos Centroamericanos S.A.'s project will have the financial support of Alba Petróleos.
This was confirmed by the principal advisor to Alba Petróleos, José Luis Merino. "Alba has received the group of businessmen behind the possible airline, who have requested financial support to study the current context of aviation and decide on their entry," said Merino.
The Superintendency of Competition (SC) has launched an investigation to determine whether Alba Petróleos de El Salvador has infringed the Competition Act.
A statement by the Superintendency of Competition (SC) reads:
SC initiates legal proceedings against Alba Petróleos
The Superintendency of Competition (SC) has officially launched an investigation to determine whether Alba Petróleos de EL SALVADOR infringed the Competition Act to having performed some economic concentrations without seeking prior authorization from the SC.
The National Association of Private Enterprise in El Salvador has declared that "money laundering is enabling Alba Petróleos to dabble in various production and commercial activities in the country."
According to an article in Elsalvador.com "The Executive Director of the ANEP, Arnoldo Jimenez said that this development ‘is part of a whole scheme of money laundering, diversion of funds and corruption that exists behind Alba ', referring to 'how Alba and el Frente (FMLN) are gaining economic control through political power'. "
The Venezuelan company plans to open eight new gas stations in the country this year.
The vice president of this joint venture, Luz Estrella Rodríguez, made the announcement, adding that they are venturing into the propane gas market with a greater supply.
As part of its marketing strategy, the company initially, offered lower prices than its competitors, but has gradually aligned its prices with the market.
Shell is reviewing its Central American operations with a view to selling them, following what is says was an unsolicited offer from another party.
"This doesn't mean Shell is going to close its operations in Central America," said Leobardo González, the company's general manager in El Salvador, "but it is going to evaluate them to see what the alternatives are."