The south of Gran Canaria, the archipelago's logistics and tourism hub, has become the epicenter of the Canary Islands Government's new offensive against opacity in the fuel market. The recent agreement between the Deputy Ministry of Economy and the Directorate General of Commerce and Consumer Affairs is not a mere administrative formality; it marks the launch of a specialized inspection unit that will focus on service stations that are central to the economy in municipalities such as Mogán, San Bartolomé de Tirajana, and Santa Lucía de Tirajana.
Gas stations in southern Gran Canaria, which experience heavy daily traffic due to the influx of thousands of tourists and the constant demand from transport fleets, are under scrutiny. The lack of inspection resources that previously hampered the Competition Authority's ability to act has been resolved through the deployment of Consumer Affairs personnel. Inspectors are now authorized to visit service stations throughout the region to audit documentation, verify profit margins, and demand a precise justification for how pump prices are set.
For businesses in this area, where fuel costs directly impact the competitiveness of tourism and the local economy, this measure represents a paradigm shift. The inspectors deployed to the area will operate under strict functional direction: their job is to collect reports, safeguard documents, and gather data on supply issues. Any attempt to conceal information or refusal to provide price lists will be formally documented so that the Canary Islands Competition Authority can assess potential violations.
According to regional sources, the decision aims to streamline oversight of a market where price disparities have been a recurring complaint in Gran Canaria's tourist areas. With this new structure, the government intends to ensure that information requests go beyond mere bureaucratic notifications and instead lead to on-site visits to service stations in the south, guaranteeing the accuracy of the information and preventing it from being manipulated by practices that could restrict competition in a vital sector for island consumption.
