Bolivia increases imports of diesel from Chile to solve supply problems

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Bolivia’s state-owned Yacimientos Petrolíferos Fiscales Bolivianos (YPFB) increased the purchase of diesel from Argentina, Chile, and Paraguay because of the fuel supply problem that has persisted for several days and that the national government attributes to import difficulties from Peru.

“We are working to bring products from Argentina and Chile. From Paraguay, we will have a smaller load. Still, we will also bring in an additional load,” said this Sunday the president of YPFB, Armin Dorgathen, in an interview with the state channel Bolivia TV.

Dorgathen recalled that Bolivia imports diesel from Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, and Peru. There was “a problem” with fuel shipments from the last country, which caused the diesel supply in western Bolivia to be at 80 or 85%.

In addition to the import problems from the Peruvian side, there is also the ongoing maintenance at the cargo terminal of the Chilean port of Arica, through which a good part of the diesel imported by Bolivia enters and which is expected to conclude on June 6, he said.

To compensate for these difficulties, 75 tankers of fuel entered this weekend, and on Monday, another twenty trucks with diesel are expected to arrive from Argentina, he said.

Dorgathen also explained that it was decided to increase crude deliveries to the refineries to process an additional 30,000 barrels until the end of the month.

The fuel will be destined for the regions of La Paz, Oruro, Chuquisaca, and Cochabamba, where in recent days, there have been long lines of vehicles at service stations, especially buses and trucks, looking for diesel.

According to Dorgathen, in eastern regions such as Santa Cruz, the most populated and the country’s economic engine, the diesel supply is “normal” since these areas are supplied with fuel imported from Argentina and Paraguay, which has not had any difficulties.

The president of YPFB was confident that from June 4 or 6, the diesel supply would be 100%, and there would even be a supply that would give greater fuel autonomy.

The executive asked people to buy only the diesel they need in order not to generate more mismatches and that there is no speculation or hoarding of the product.

According to official data, the daily demand for diesel in Bolivia is about 5.5 million liters.

With information from EFE

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