Fuel crisis: Masismo admitted its inability to meet demand

The fuel crisis in Bolivia is worsening. The country has gone through more than a year with recurring shortages. But finally, the masista government of Luis Arce acknowledged that it doesn't have enough dollars to import fuels. This admission comes amid long lines at gas stations and the discontent of productive sectors, notably evidencing the fragility of the regime's supply system. In this context, criticisms of the government and its inability to solve these problems have increased. The Minister of Hydrocarbons, Franklin Molina, attributed the crisis to the "blockade" of credits in the Plurinational Legislative Assembly. According to the regime, access to these funds would improve liquidity and guarantee the purchase of fuels. However, the pending credits amount to 1.228 billion dollars. Most of these are allocated to specific projects and not to the acquisition of fuels. From 2021 to 2024, Bolivia has spent 12.5 billion dollars on fuel imports. Despite this investment, the supply remains insufficient due to the growing demand and dependence on the international market. The Minister of the Presidency, María Nela Prada, stated that 60 million dollars are required weekly to purchase diesel and gasoline. As the situation becomes more critical, masismo has proposed a partial solution. This consists of selling fuel at international prices to the mining and agricultural sectors. This measure, however, has been rejected by producers, who believe that the State should facilitate free importation without the intermediation of Yacimientos Petrolíferos Fiscales Bolivianos (YPFB). The fuel crisis directly affects the economy. The summer harvest, which represents more than 2 billion dollars in economic activity, is at risk due to the lack of diesel. In several regions, producers have blocked roads demanding guarantees for fuel supply. Armin Dorgathen, president of YPFB, admitted that the company can only cover between 40% and 50% of the demand. He also revealed that there are 500 fuel tankers that can't enter the country due to lack of payment. In an attempt to unlock the situation, the prompt disbursement of the necessary resources to release these shipments was announced. The crisis not only affects the agricultural and mining sectors but also industry and transportation. Pablo Camacho, president of the National Chamber of Industries (CNI), warned that the fuel shortage compromises food production and supply. According to him, it is urgent to debate the future of the subsidy and establish a sustainable energy policy. Does the population no longer believe in promises? The president of the Association of Corn and Sorghum Producers (Promasor), Mario Moreno, accused the Government of "systematically lying." He demanded the immediate release of imports without excessive regulations. He assured that the private sector can supply the market if bureaucratic obstacles are removed. From the Departmental Association of Pig Farmers (Adepor), Jorge Méndez also spoke out against the intermediation of YPFB. According to the authority, the Government doesn't have the money to sustain the current system and should allow private entities to take responsibility for importation. The situation has also caused political tensions. Minister Prada defended Arce's management and accused the opposition of attempting an "economic and political sabotage." She assured that the Government will not yield to pressures and will remain in power until the next elections. While the Government attributes the crisis to its detractors, the lines at gas stations grow longer. The population fears that the shortage will extend to other essential products if a prompt solution is not found. The regime insists that the fuel crisis is only a temporary problem and that stability is assured, but the reality on the streets shows a very different situation. The long lines, uncertainty, and public discontent reflect a growing distrust in an official discourse that finds less and less support. Promises are repeated, but the shortage persists.