Shortages

Things are changing in Bolivia but because I do not understand what is happening, I do not feel that I can comment on what is going on behind the scenes but I can tell you how it impacts the community.

The major problem we have faced for the past two months is a severe diesel shortage. There has always been a sensitive diesel situation and we always made sure that we filled up whenever we were in town, just to be safe. However, since October the situation has escalated. This is the time for soy harvest and rice planting all at the same time so the amount of diesel needed in agriculture alone from September through January is substantial. Then add to that all the truck transport that carried all the goods through the country. There is no other means of transportation for the animals, vegetables, fruit, sugar cane, cotton and all the other products that are either used within the country or exported to neighbouring countries.

Because the price is controlled by the government there has been no increase in cost, just in supply. News reports say that the imports of diesel are down by between 60 and 70%, thus the shortage. When the shortage first became evident we noticed often two of the three stations in town would be out of diesel and there would be a line up of 4 or 5 vehicles at the other station. Then the line ups started to get longer and longer. It became very frustrating when trucks with a couple of tanks and 4 or 5 barrels would need to be filled. We calculated the average fill would take about half and hour. But in Yapacani you could take your jerry cans and get them filled while they waited between trucks.

To be honest, we never had to wait a really long time in Yapacani but the situation in Santa Cruz was much more serious. We have one friend who waited from 10 in the evening until 3 in the morning to get his truck filled. Another waited for three hours and when he got to the pump they were only giving 6 liters per vehicle.

A couple of days ago we purchased some extra gas and diesel and now we have enough to carry us through a minor shortage. Often when we come to town there is no gasoline and we use that for the quad and the generator. Technically, the stations are not allowed to sell gasoline in jerry cans but we found a place that will sell it if we don’t want a receipt. Another one of these wonderful laws that are set to control the gasoline being purchased for drug production!

Yes, I know that you pay way more for gas and diesel that we do but you know when you go to the station that you will be able to get the vehicle filled.