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Ahh, so ALBA isn't working out so well.
Ecuador is developing its natural gas reserves, but they have no plans to distribute it for popular use. It is targeted for (limited) heavy industry and export.
The subsidy for lpg was begun back in the '70's. It was a major factor in preserving forests and keeping urban air clean, along with buying votes, its principal purpose. It became unsustainable after the refineries were nationalized and production plummeted. They were purchasing lpg on the spot market to meet demand. Very pricey.
The induction coil stoves are very efficient, if your power grid is stable. The plan was implemented without regard to its impact on the grid. It has become a money pit. Correa also banned the sale of gas stoves. Ecuador was a major producer of gas appliances in the region. That production was shut down. It was to have been replaced with domestically produced induction stoves, but that never materialized. The stoves were sourced directly from China, and they don't work reliably.
The problem for the people is that in order to get the subsidized induction stoves, you had to hand in your gas stoves, which were crushed (or sold on the black market in Peru or Colombia). A housewife is faced with preparing daily meals without any backup to an unreliable power grid (except purchasing charcoal or firewood, back to the future).
Returning to the original subject, wouldn't synthetic diesel be less of a burden on the economy?
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