Fuel ranks in the suppliers They increased again This week in several regions of the country and the situation tends to jump to the legal field, since YPFB announced “very hard measures” Against the suppliers that would be hiding fuel, which would have caused shortages in January.
The spokesman of the state oil company, Misael Franco, warned on Tuesday that “very hard measures are going to be taken, because this January there were no rows in the different service stations. That is why YPFB president, Armin Dorgathen, will announce hard measures ”, assured.
A source close to the state said It is ready “a package of measures” which will be implemented together with the National Hydrocarbons Agency (ANH) and the figure of “intervention”, which means sanctions ranging from the suspension of the operation license, until temporary or definitive closure of the service station.
According to a state media report, ANH announced that there are at least 11 service stations in Santa Cruz, Cochabamba, Oruro and La Paz They were sealed by diverting fuels in the midst of the growing demand. Duty tried to know the versions of the Association of Suridores (Asosur) and the ANH, But the spokesmen did not attend to the telephone calls made on Wednesday.
The head of the National Vice Presidency of YPFB Operations (VPNO), Ariel Montaño, He expressed to the duty that the oil company, according to their competences, Do not perform direct control In the service stations. However, during the second half of January a On gasoline demand.
“For example, in Santa Cruz, the office during this period was from 2.6 million liters above the programmed And, despite this envelope, they presented themselves ranks sporadically, Given this situation, operations were carried out where some service stations were identified They reported minor balances to those who really had or should have, all This information will be sent through reports to the regulatory entity (ANH), ”he said.
Asked about the projections for the next few days, Montaño announced that YPFB plan to carry out fuel imports based on the projected demand for each month. “This demand is worked together with the ministry of the sector, YPFB and ANH. For February you have scheduled to market 183 million liters of diesel and 199.2 million liters of gasoline nationwide ”.
According to the official, to comply with these volumes, the importation of fuels will be made From four different countries and seven different plants, all of them are enabled and operating.
What does intervention mean?
The expert lawyer in the hydrocarbons sector, Daniela Durán He explained that an intervention to a service station, if sufficient indications of having committed any violation of the provisions of the regulations, means that they can not only suspend the operation license, but the temporary closure to the final.
At the same time, he mentioned that in that period The State can be administered for a certain time and even go to another administration, as of YPFB. “And they can also start Criminal processes to those in charge “Durán said.
“The ANH has the power to grant the operation licenses, to control and intervene the service stations. In the case of an intervention, it can be three months, six months, nine months, vary, but maximum one year. After that time, it makes the determination of what happens with the service station and the operation license, ”he said.
Consulted on the operations that YPFB did In some suppliers at the end of January and that the state president himself indicated that the reports were referred to the ANH, Durán pointed out that this action is usurpation of functions and is illegal. “The ANH has to create its own reports. Actually, what YPFB has done is usurpation of functions, that is illegal, cannot control because it is not an inspector, He doesn’t have that power, ”said the lawyer.
He added that, in terms of sale of fuels, the oil company All you can do is sign contracts, For example, with great consumers (Graco), through its commercial management. “Within the framework of the contract (YPFB) you can see where the volumes are intended, but once that volume (of fuels) is reached to destination and is loaded in the tank of the service station, from that moment on, The control is attribution of ANH and not YPFB “he clarified.
On January 28, the president of YPFB, Armin Dorgathen, denounced that there is a “Sabotage” on the part of the service stations to generate anxiety in the population and feed speculation regarding shortage. “We have verified it the weekend, we have done operations such as YPFB, It is not something that corresponds to us, But we have done it. Service stations that said they were in ‘alert’ of fuel They had more than 20 thousand liters in tank. They raised an alert when they had no need, ”he said.
“YPFB lies”
The hydrocarbon analyst, Germán Richter, He assured that, if the statements of Asosur and YPFB are put on a balance, the state is losing because “They lie constantly”, He said when referring to the statements of his executives. “Asosur does not have to have such attitudes (to hide the fuel), because Their purpose is to sell; The faster they sell, the faster they earn money. ”
He said that, in case of YPFB accusations, “it is easily detectable” when you see that they, the only way to sell their fuel is through the pump. And everyone is controlling so that they do not sell Fuel in containers. “Roma (YPFB) lies every day. And if it is not by habit, it is not to lose it (…) the ANH makes comments on availability, shipments, shipments, she has to control just, but He is a spokesperson for deposits; Germán Jiménez (director) is justifying production, shipments, receptions in Arica. He doesn’t have Nothing to do with Arica ”, He said.
According to Richter, YPFB’s accusation is part of a strategy for cover up “true reasons” of fuel shortage. “And what is the problem? The sale they make exclusively to the mining of peacea liter is not missing (…) they receive from Riberalta, And who sends Riberalta the diesel? Deposits, ”said the analyst.
