Dominican customs authorities have fined cement producer Cemex US$32,000 for allegedly scheming to avoid paying fuel taxes.

Officials say the Mexican company attempted to acquire more than 640 tons of tax-exempt petroleum coke fuel from electricity producer Generadora Itabo.

The fine was announced last Wednesday.

Customs officials did not say how much the cement producer would have stood to gain from avoiding the fuel taxes.

Under Dominican law, only Generadora Itabo can receive the tax-free petroleum coke fuel.

Cemex and Itabo have denied the allegations in statements to Dominican papers.

Cemex says its Dominican operation has an internal power plant that can produce up to 25.7 megawatts of electricity.

- AP