What’s Behind the Delay in Shipment of Petroleum to Belize?
The shortage of premium and diesel is a most unusual case and while the insufficiency persists, retailers have been told to give priority to government’s essential services, as well as ministers and their respective chief executive officers. According to correspondence, suppliers are being urged to continue the rationing and to monitor gas attendants with the sales of fuel. This comes on the heels of a report early this morning that there was no diesel to fill up an ambulance for the Ministry of Health. The tardiness of the delivery, according to John Mencias, may be the result of a breakdown in operation at the refinery in Venezuela. Puma Energy, the sole importer of petroleum to Belize, has been bringing in fuel from neighboring Guatemala by road. Despite its alternative measure, there is still a shortage at the pumps.
John Mencias
“In the meantime, Puma has been trucking diesel and, I think, gasoline from Guatemala but I guess this still has not been enough to stem the rise in demand. But I spoke to Mr. Freddy Flores just a few hours ago and he told me that they feel that it is largely under control. I understand that people are still complaining that there is no diesel in certain gas stations. But, as I said, there are trucks keep coming in and by next Tuesday a ship will be coming from ALBA Petrocaribe and also Puma is bringing in a ship, I think, from Honduras or somewhere. So by next Tuesday everything should settle down but what we’re saying still is that diesel is coming into the country and the other fuels over the period up to next Tuesday.”
Isani Cayetano
“What accounts for the tardiness of the shipment to Belize?”
John Mencias
John Mencias
“We have been trying to get that information from PDVSA. It could be operational malfunction in the refinery, we are not sure. They have not explained to us what is the reason. This has happened a couple times before, it has been later based on one occasion but for the most part it has never been later than say three or four days. This time it’s a bit extended and unfortunately it’s coinciding with this increase in demand. Also we are aware too that at least one of the tanks at Puma’s facility, the depot, is out and so you would exacerbate any problem because that means that you would have less storage and we would be bringing in fuel more often.”
So tonight if your vehicle uses premium you can still rely on regular fuel but if your vehicle uses diesel chances are you will be stranded.
