October 31, 2022, 23:40 PM
October 31, 2022, 23:40 PM
The fuel that YPFB distributed to private suppliers lasted a few hours because it does not cover the high demand for the product in Santa Cruz, this did whatand several people are left unable to buy the product. Since the previous week, the distribution of gasoline has been irregular in the eastern capital and provinces due to a blockade maintained by a group of residents of the Los Lotes area, at the Guillermo Elder Bell refinery.
These people reject the indefinite strike called by the Interinstitutional Committee that demands a census in 2023 and demands the annulment of a Supreme Decree that sets the completion of this statistical study for 2024.
To lift the extreme measure in the oil complex, this group asks to suspend the indefinite strike. They maintain that they have debts and denied being part of the Movement Towards Socialism (MAS).
But on October 23, Rolando Borda, executive secretary of the Central Obrera Departamental (COD) and supporter of the MAS, announced that social sectors were going to surround Santa Cruz and cut off the fuel supply.
The conflict at the refinery reached its peak on Saturday, when another group of neighbors — which supports the strike due to the census — tried to unblock the entrance to these facilities. This generated confrontation between both sides.
Many people were left without buying fuel / Photo: EEE
The Police used force and dispersed the people who wanted to unblock. After that day, the state-owned YPFB negotiated with the other group that blocks the refinery and managed to dispatch some tankers to distribute gasoline in the city and provinces.
This Monday, the pumps received the supply, but rationed up to 10,000 liters per pump. In addition, the sale was limited to the population.
At the Genex pump, on Escuadrón Velasco avenue, the product arrived at 3:00 in the morning and was sold out by 10:00.. The same thing happened at the branch of this company on Cristo Redentor avenue and third outer ring road.
At the Biopetrol pump, on the second ring road and Beni avenue, the gasoline arrived at 6:00 a.m. and ran out at 4:00 p.m. Queues of several blocks were recorded at this service station. There was even annoyance from people who could not buy fuel.
The tension rose when the policemen tried to refuel. This generated annoyance among the people who were waiting to buy gasoline.
This same situation happened in the branch of this supplier, located in the third ring road and Cristo Redentor avenue. There the product also began to be sold at 6:00 and sold out at 17:00. In this place the people, who were queuing, prevented a Police patrol car from loading gasoline.
“They want gasoline to repress people”people lashed out.
While gasoline ran out, in the refinery area carriers who reject the indefinite strike by the census reinforced the blockade in this place. For this they placed tires and a barricade with rubble.
They assured that they will remain there until the indefinite strike is lifted. They also assured that they have debts with the banks and that they must work to be able to pay them.
Micreros reinforced the blockade in Palmasola / Photo: EEE
YPFB warns of shortages
The Executive President of YPFB, Armin Dorgathen, assured that if the indefinite strike and the demonstrations against this measure are not lifted; Santa Cruz will be completely depleted of fuel in a matter of days.
Meanwhile, and despite the inclement weather, dozens of vehicles and motorcycles await their turn at service stations waiting to fill their tanks. But few managed to buy this product.
