Abdo does not clarify why the price of diesel fell to YPFB and not to Paraguayans

In a non-explanatory statement issued via social networks by the state-owned company Petróleos Paraguayos SA (Petropar), the government of President Mario Abdo Benítez pimped with the type of diesel to try to explain the withering publication about the price reduction that he applied in the sale of fuel to Bolivia.

What is not explained in the communiqué is why the Abdo government lowered the price of diesel oil that it sells to Yacimientos Petroliferos Fiscales Bolivianos (YPFB) while denying Paraguayans this benefit.

Invoices revealed yesterday by La Nación Investiga show how the Abdo government reduced the price of diesel sent to Bolivian Fiscal Oilfields (YPFB) by 6% in two weeks; to be more precise, in 14 days. Meanwhile, the discourse here for the Paraguayans was that prices cannot be reduced until stocks are exhausted and that the drop can cause property damage.

Between September 4 and September 18, 2022, the reduction in prices per cubic meter of diesel oil sent by Petropar to Bolivia is observed continuously (see graph).

From an initial sale price of US$1,473.36 per cubic meter to YPFB, Petropar lowered it to US$1,389.65, according to the issued invoices. This implies a 6% drop in the sale price to Bolivians which, applied to the vital price of G. 9,990 per liter of type I diesel, according to economists, in Paraguay the price of diesel should have been reduced by G. 600 per liter .

Faced with this scandal and the widespread escrache due to this new submissive management of the Government, Petropar confirmed the invoices that our media published, but made a price comparison with type III diesel, which is obviously much cheaper than type I diesel and with it they gave the version that the price marketed to YPFB is more expensive. However, experts in the matter explained that, due to the specifications required by YPFB, the diesel that was sold falls under type 1 diesel, which is G. 9,990 per liter.

While the tanker trucks of the Bolivian state oil company began to withdraw fuel from the Villa Elisa plant, the President of the Republic reported that for Paraguayans the price of fuel will only be reduced when the stock available in Petropar runs out.

“What happens is that we have purchases and the law prevents us from selling fuel below cost because it would be embezzlement. So, we need to replenish; In fact, we have already made a sale to Bolivia to empty our stock as soon as possible to be able to replenish and in the replenishment process, where we are going to buy with the cheapest fuel, we will be able to lower the price again, ”he had said. president on that date. He then added, “Once we replenish our stock with cheaper stock, we’re going to lower the price again.”

Petropar comes out with the version that the price sold to YPFB is higher than the price sold in the national market as if this were the question. The claim is why prices per cubic meter of diesel fell to Bolivians. From Petropar they indicated that the weekly price reduction that was granted to Bolivia for the purchase of diesel was because they adjusted to the norms imposed by the buyer.

From Petropar they indicated in communication with our media that “YPFB (Bolivian state) buys diesel with the average international price of the week prior to loading plus the premium. In the first installment, the price of diesel was higher”. Supposedly that is why fuel costs for Bolivians were lowering and they add that “fuel sets prices fortnightly.”

“The average of 15 days is made, then the next 15 days are recalculated and so on. That is the price we sell”, reported from Petropar, ignoring that this dynamic has not occurred in recent weeks and the Government deprived Paraguayans of the drop in the price of diesel.