“We are maximizing volumes from other points such as Argentina and Paraguay,” said Gabriela Delgadillo, YPFB’s Derivative Products Manager.
The manager of Derived Products and Industrialization of Yacimientos Petrolíferos Fiscales Bolivianos (YPFB), Gabriela Delgadillo, reported that the state oil company activated an “aggressive import” plan to “maximize” fuel volumes and cover the excess demand in the highland country.
The country is going through an acute crisis due to the fuel shortage in recent months. According to the Government of Luis Arce, the crisis worsened due to the road blockade promoted by the Movement Towards Socialism (MAS) that “suffocated” the country for 24 days.
In an interview with local radio station La Razón , Delgadillo explained that the pressure measure caused fuel tankers to become stranded on the roads connecting the east and west.
"We are maximizing volumes from other places like Argentina and Paraguay," he added.
He reported that 650 diesel tankers and 750 gasoline tankers entered the country from the Paraguay border crossing. 440 diesel tankers and 290 gasoline tankers entered from Peru. “There is an aggressive plan to maximize imports.”
"If we were planning to import 40 million liters of fuel in November, we are now doubling that figure. We are importing almost double that amount to cover the excess demand," he said.
He indicated that, for example, 2 million were sent to Santa Cruz and, now, nearly 3 million have been sent.
However, he explained that the queues will not disappear overnight, but will do so gradually, and they expect that by next week there will be no more queues and things will return to normal.
Delgadillo regretted that, due to the blockades on key roads in Cochabamba, the oil company had to reduce diesel shipments by 60% and gasoline by 70% to 75%.
A couple of days ago, YPFB assured that it expects to return to “normality” and end the queues for fuel this week with the increase in shipments, mainly for La Paz and Santa Cruz, where service stations have been full for weeks.
