Bolivia’s Santa Cruz faces a severe fuel crisis threatening agricultural output and local transport operations. Workers demand government intervention by March 3 to avoid strikes during the Carnival. Agricultural leaders highlight the urgent need for diesel to secure harvests worth billions. Transport operators warn that 40% of their fleet remains inactive due to fuel shortages, exacerbating the situation.
In Santa Cruz, Bolivia, the country is facing a major fuel crisis, prompting local workers to threaten a strike as fuel shortages escalate. With critical duties and agricultural production at stake, there is an urgent demand for a steady diesel supply to avoid impacting billions worth of crops. The looming Carnival on March 3 adds pressure, as sectors rally for government assurance to avert industrial action.
Agricultural producers, transport operators, and the general populace are significantly impacted, requiring daily queues for fuel. Klaus Frerking, president of the Eastern Agricultural Chamber (CAO), emphasized the necessity of ample diesel supplies to ensure a successful harvest for the agricultural sector. “We need at least 40 million liters of diesel just to harvest so as not to put at risk the 2.3 billion dollars generated by this harvest,” he stated.
The Association of Oilseeds and Wheat (ANAPO) warned that substantial areas of crops, particularly soybeans and rice, risk remaining unharvested due to the diesel shortage. Jaime Hernández, general manager of ANAPO, expressed his concerns, indicating that YPFB must ensure adequate diesel supply to support agricultural productivity. “We have begun harvesting 1.2 million hectares of soybeans,” he noted, highlighting the crisis’ urgency.
The urban transport sector is also adversely affected by the fuel scarcity, with only 60% of transport units operational. Bismark Daza, executive secretary of the Federation of Transporters, revealed that the remainder are stuck in fuel queues. The transport sector warned of a potential 48-hour strike if the government fails to resolve the fuel issue by March 3, stating, “There is no fuel, neither gasoline nor diesel; we regret this position.”
The economic implications of the diesel shortage are grave, necessitating a prompt response from the government to ensure consistent fuel distribution. A strike would exacerbate the crisis, demanding immediate action to prevent significant losses in the agricultural and transport sectors.
The fuel crisis in Bolivia, particularly in Santa Cruz, has led workers to threaten strikes due to dwindling diesel supplies. The agricultural sector emphasizes the urgency of resolving this issue to prevent extensive crop losses, notably as the time-sensitive harvest approaches. With the Carnival deadline looming, the government faces mounting pressure to secure stable fuel supplies, underscoring the critical nature of this situation.
Original Source: www.dailystar.co.uk
