Just weeks before the second round of presidential elections on November 19, cars in Argentina are lining up for gas.
Many gas stations are closed. Others have long lines. Social media shows the crisis. Lack of dollars means fuel tankers wait offshore for payment.
This problem affects mostly the north but also Buenos Aires and La Plata. Stations with gas limit how much each car can get.
Meanwhile, Argentina faces high inflation, at 148% per year. Also, the country’s dollar reserves are low.
Sergio Massa, Economy Minister and presidential candidate, issued a warning. If the fuel issue isn’t fixed by Tuesday, oil exports may stop.
Massa says some companies were holding back fuel, expecting currency changes. Major oil companies made a statement on Saturday.
They blame the problem on a sudden increase in demand. They promise to fix the supply soon.
Bloomberg reports that YPF, a state-owned company, has fuel offshore. However, they can’t unload until they pay the suppliers, BP and Gunvor.
In the last six months, YPF imported 6% of its car fuel. As for politics, the presidential run-off is on November 19.
The economy is a key issue. Massa got 36.68% in the first round, while Javier Milei got 29.98%.
In conclusion, Argentina is facing a fuel crisis. The shortage comes at a tense time, weeks before crucial elections.
Both presidential candidates offer different economic solutions. This adds to the complexity of an already difficult situation.
More: Argentina news in English, every day from The Rio Times.
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief