MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

New fuel shortage hits Bolivia due to logistical delays

Things worsened after some tanker trucks staged a strike to demand higher freight rates

Bolivia is grappling with a severe fuel crisis, marked by long vehicle lines at petrol stations in major cities like La Paz, El Alto, Cochabamba, and Santa Cruz, caused by a partial strike by tanker transporters demanding higher freight rates and logistical delays at the Chilean port of Arica.

The state-owned Yacimientos Petrolíferos Fiscales Bolivianos (YPFB) reports that four of 23 tanker companies in the southeast are halting operations, pressuring others, and disrupting fuel distribution.

Additionally, adverse weather conditions, with waves over two meters, have delayed the unloading of six ships carrying 149 million liters of fuel (72 million liters of gasoline, 60 million liters of diesel, and 17 million liters of crude oil) at the Sica Sica Terminal in Arica for 40 days.

YPFB anticipates unloading may start around May 28-29 if conditions improve. The crisis has sparked social unrest, with accusations of political motivations and government mismanagement, though YPFB assures that existing import contracts will restore supply soon.

To cope with the crisis, Bolivian drivers exchange information on social media about operational gas stations and the length of the queues.

“We have 23 tanker companies in that sector, of which 19 said they are willing to continue working. But there are four that are threatening, holding vigils, even preventing tankers from loading fuel in Paraguay and Argentina,” YPFB President Armin Dorgathen said in a radio interview. He added that a particular sector was acting “arbitrarily”, with political and economic motivations. “They are using a moment of crisis to sit down to negotiate under pressure. We are not going to give in to this kind of blackmail,” he said.

Dorgathen also pointed out that, for the last 40 days, five ships, two with gasoline, two with diesel, and one with crude, have been unable to unload due to storm surges and security restrictions imposed by the Chilean government at the Sica Sica Terminal.

“Around May 28 or 29, there could be the possibility that the conditions exist to start the disembarkation of one of the ships,” YPFB's Jhonny Chuquimia explained. “The sea condition is quite adverse, as we have a record of 2.1 meters high at the moment, when the operation for berthing, which is the approach of the tanker for mooring at the marine terminal, is one meter high and up to 1.5 meters during the unloading of the product. The forecast we have regarding operations is that these days the swell will continue,” he added.

Fuel supply is managed through multiple import routes to guarantee efficient coverage throughout the country. For import and distribution logistics, fuel entry routes are used through Arica and Iquique (Chile), Peru, Paraguay, and Argentina.