Bolivia’s Minister of Hydrocarbons and Energy, Alejandro Gallardo, issued a public apology on Friday for ongoing delays in fuel deliveries caused by severe weather conditions along the Chilean coast, which have stalled the unloading of tanker ships carrying fuel bound for the landlocked nation.
“We sincerely apologize for this situation, which we understand causes significant disruption to both transportation and productive sectors,” Gallardo said in a statement.
Fuel shipments scheduled to arrive through the port of Arica, Chile—where Bolivia relies on maritime access—have been unable to unload due to persistent high sea swells and strong winds. Authorities say multiple attempts to offload fuel at the Sica Sica Terminal in Arica have failed due to safety concerns.
In response, the Bolivian government has begun rerouting shipments to other ports, including Mollendo in Peru and Mejillones in northern Chile, in an effort to maintain domestic supply.
A tanker carrying approximately 43 million liters of fuel has already been diverted to Mollendo. Meanwhile, five other vessels—two transporting 72 million liters of gasoline and three carrying 60 million liters of diesel—remain anchored near Arica, awaiting favorable sea conditions for offloading.
YPFB Transport Manager Óscar Guzmán confirmed the logistical shift, noting that preparations are in place to facilitate unloading operations in Peru.
“The logistics team at YPFB made the necessary arrangements, and we’ve successfully redirected the most recent vessel from Arica to Mollendo for unloading,” he said.
Jhonny Chuquimia, another YPFB official, added that the company is increasing fuel volumes through these alternative ports and expects an improvement in maritime conditions next week, which could help normalize domestic distribution.
Gallardo also urged the public to remain calm and avoid panic buying, which he said exacerbates the issue.
“Unfortunately, speculation is creating unnecessary alarm. We’re seeing drivers with half or even a quarter tank lining up at stations, which puts further pressure on supply,” he said.
The fuel delays come as Bolivia grapples with logistical vulnerabilities linked to its lack of direct access to the sea. Officials say the rerouted shipments and improved weather forecasts should help stabilize the situation in the coming days.
