Bolivia fuel crisis: shortages and debt threaten supply stability

fuel shortage Bolivia YPFB IMF credit transport crisis

Bolivia is facing a critical fuel shortage characterized by long queues at service stations, which is significantly impacting economic and professional activities. In Potosí, professionals have been forced to use their vehicles as mobile offices while waiting hours for gasoline.

Deputy José Luis Porcel warned that the shortage could persist until the end of the year due to a lack of foreign currency and a $700 million debt owed to fuel suppliers. The government is currently importing fuel through credit arrangements. Porcel noted that the primary hope for stabilizing the situation lies in a potential $1.9 billion credit from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), though disbursements might not occur until October or November.

In response to the crisis, the tanker truck sector has reached an agreement with Yacimientos Petrolíferos Fiscales Bolivianos (YPFB) to establish technical working tables. However, transport representatives, including Sergio Kosky, emphasized that the priority must be normalizing supply, noting that many drivers currently spend four days in queues for every three days of work.

Entities

Bolivia · Inter-American Development Bank · International Monetary Fund · José Luis Porcel · Sergio Kosky · World Bank · YPFB

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[○ 1 SOURCE] Transport workers are spending up to four days in queues and only three days working due to fuel shortages. eju.tv
[○ 1 SOURCE] Tanker truck drivers have reached an agreement with YPFB to establish technical working tables. eju.tv
[● 2 SOURCES] A potential $1.9 billion credit from the IMF is seen as a primary hope to address the liquidity crisis. lavozdetarija.com
[● 2 SOURCES] The Bolivian government has an accumulated debt of at least $700 million with fuel suppliers. lavozdetarija.com
[● 2 SOURCES] The government is currently importing fuel using a credit modality. lavozdetarija.com
[● 2 SOURCES] Fuel shortages and long queues in Bolivia could persist until the end of the year. lavozdetarija.com