Saint Lucia: Govt reduces price of domestic cooking gas by over $3

The Government of Saint Lucia has announced changes in the retail pricing of LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) 20lb, 22lb and 100lb and Bulk (Wholesale) cylinders effective from Monday, January 22, 2024. As per the Government, the prices of 20lb Cylinders will be decreased from $39.30 to $36.00 and the prices of 22lb cylinders will be decreased from $43.22 to $39.60. The retail price of Gasoline, Diesel and Kerosene will remain unchanged in Saint Lucia.These prices are regulated after considering the changes implemented in the international oil prices and the Government's applications of the modified market pass-through petroleum pricing mechanism. The introduced changes in the LPG Cylinders include subsidizing the 20 lb Cylinder (9.07kg) at $16.97 per cylinder, and the 22 lb cylinder (9.98kg) is subsidized at $18.66 per cylinder.Here are the changes implemented in the LPG Cylinder prices:

• 20lb (9.07 kg) decreased from $39.30 to $36.00 per cylinder.
• 22lb (9.98 kg) decreased from $43.22 to $39.60 per cylinder.
• 100lb (45.36kg) decreased from $279.68 to $264.84 per cylinder.
• Bulk (Wholesale) LPG decreased from $2.67 per pound to $2.52 per pound.

The prices for Gasoline, Diesel and Kerosene are:

• Gasoline will remain unchanged at $3.63 per litre or $16.50 per gallon.
• Diesel will remain unchanged at $3.63 per litre or $16.50 per gallon.
• Kerosene will remain unchanged at $2.58 per litre or $11.72 per gallon.

Further, the Government informed that the following adjustments of fuel product retail prices will be announced on February 12, 2024.Previously, the Government has projected spending $8.10 million on subsidies for LPG cylinders from April to December 2023 to keep the prices down. These elevated subsidy rates have successfully kept the retail prices of the 20lbs and 22lbs LPG cylinders affordable for the average Saint Lucian household and averted excessive price hikes.In 2023, the Government of Saint Lucia, led by Prime Minister Philip J Pierre, paid an average of $15.05 for every 20-pound cylinder of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) for every consumer. For every purchase of a 22-pound LPG cylinder, the Government contributed an average of $16.55 towards the retail price. In December 2024, the Government subsidized a 20-lb cylinder (9.07kg) at $18.39 per cylinder and a 22-lb cylinder (9.98kg)at $20.23 per cylinder.