2024-06-16 20:14:10
Bolivia introduced this Thursday the deployment of the army at gasoline and diesel stations all through the nation to fight the smuggling of these fuels that it imports and sells at backed costs.
The federal government of Luis Arce mobilized a contingent of 880 troopers to protect 120 distribution factors, reported the Vice Minister of Combat In opposition to Smuggling, Pedro Vargas, along with officers from the state Nationwide Hydrocarbons Company (ANH).
Based on knowledge from the ANH, there are about 700 gasoline stations put in in Bolivia.
The measure goals to “set up management of various service stations (gasoline and diesel) in city areas, in addition to on the nation’s border, with army personnel,” mentioned Vargas within the metropolis of Tarija, on the border with Argentina.
With “the Armed Forces now we have begun to hold out stricter management, primarily with what has been referred to as smuggling,” he added.
Bolivia faces a periodic scarcity within the provide of gasoline, due, in keeping with authorities, to extreme demand that sparks rumors on social networks about an alleged insufficiency of those assets.
Based on the Vice Ministry of Hydrocarbons, the South American nation consumes about 7 million liters of diesel and about 6 million of gasoline per day. It imports 70% of that first gasoline and 50% of the second.
Bolivia additionally subsidizes gasoline imports. In 2023, it allotted 1.1 billion {dollars} and for 2024 it budgeted 1.408 million.
This expense meant a drop in its worldwide reserves, which final Could reached 1,796 million {dollars}, after climbing to fifteen,122 million in 2014.
On the similar time, there’s a scarcity of {dollars} within the banking system within the nation and the identical gasoline importing firms complain of difficulties in buying gasoline in Argentina, Paraguay and Chile.
The issues within the distribution and lack of the US foreign money brought about the discomfort of the transporters, who introduced that on June 17 they’ll start protests and highway blockades and the closure of worldwide routes.
© Agence France-Presse
