A growing fuel shortage is straining cities across Bolivia, as a combination of labor strikes and port delays disrupts gasoline and diesel distribution nationwide.
Motorists in La Paz, El Alto, Cochabamba, and Santa Cruz have faced long lines at fuel stations this week, as transport disruptions triggered by a partial strike among tanker operators collide with ongoing logistical challenges at the Chilean port of Arica.
According to Bolivia’s state-run energy company, Yacimientos Petrolíferos Fiscales Bolivianos (YPFB), four of 23 fuel transport firms operating in the country’s southeast have suspended service and are reportedly pressuring others to join the walkout. The companies are demanding higher freight rates and improved contractual conditions.
YPFB President Armin Dorgathen accused the striking firms of leveraging the crisis for political and economic gain.
“They are acting arbitrarily, blocking tankers from loading fuel in Paraguay and Argentina, and staging vigils to intimidate others,” Dorgathen said during a radio interview. “We won’t give in to this kind of blackmail.”
Compounding the issue, high ocean swells and port security restrictions in northern Chile have delayed the unloading of six fuel ships at the Arica terminal for more than a month. The vessels are carrying a combined 149 million liters of fuel — including gasoline, diesel, and crude oil.
Weather conditions at sea remain unfavorable, with waves exceeding 2 meters. YPFB officials said operations at the terminal typically require waves to remain below 1.5 meters to safely unload cargo.
“There is a possibility that unloading could begin around May 28 or 29, depending on maritime conditions,” said Jhonny Chuquimia, YPFB’s logistics manager. “But the current swell continues to exceed operational thresholds.”
The situation has fueled public frustration, with social media becoming a key tool for drivers to share information on which stations remain open and how long queues are. Some political factions have blamed the government for poor crisis management, though YPFB maintains that fuel imports from neighboring countries remain ongoing.
Bolivia relies on multiple import corridors for fuel, drawing from ports in Chile and Peru, as well as overland routes through Paraguay and Argentina. Despite current bottlenecks, YPFB says it is working to normalize supply through existing contracts and alternative distribution channels.
