In April, the price of bottled gas could increase by around six euros, reaching 40 euros per bottle. The Government anticipated this increase, increasing support to 25 euros per bottle for families with fewer resources, but consumers and DECO defend widespread support through the reduction of VAT.
The increase reflects the galloping increase in gas prices in international markets, which should have a direct impact on the sales price to Portuguese consumers.
“We are here on the verge of a huge increase in price. To give you an idea, butane and propane gas prices have doubled since December. This translated into price per cylinder, we can be talking about, in the case of butane gas, that by the end of April we will go from a price of 34 euros to something like 37 or 40 euros”, explained Pedro Silva, from DECO Protests.
The government has already anticipated the rise in gas prices by increasing the co-participation to 25 euros per bottle for families with fewer resources. However, consumers argue that this measure should be generalized.
For DECO, widespread support for the price of gas, in cylinders and piped, makes perfect senseas it is an essential public service that serves more than two million Portuguese homes. The association also defends the reduction of the current ICMS rate, from 23% to 6%, as is already the case with natural gas.
“At the current price of a bottle of butane, 34 euros, if the 6% VAT were applied we would have a final price of 29 euros and, therefore, it is 5 euros. It is in fact a very substantial saving and an equitable tax treatment, which is something that is also not understood, because there are more than two million families that are not covered. This continues, in fact, to be an essential energy product”, stressed Pedro Silva.
