Mexico suffering from acute
petrol shortage
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| A police officer talks to a fuel truck driver in Mexico City. |
Mexico is suffering an acute gasoline crisis, after the
government shut down pipelines to combat widespread siphoning theft by
organized crime.
By James Blears
Mexico's new President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador
has shut down gasoline pipelines, because drug cartels are tapping in
and siphoning vast off amounts to illegally sell, costing the Mexican economy
billions of dollars.
Alternative transportation via road by fuel tankers and by
rail is far slower, and has caused acute shortages in ten states, including the
area around Mexico City.
Queues are stretching kilometers day and night to gasoline
stations, as frustrated motorists are waiting for hours to buy petrol.
Meanwhile, fifteen ocean tankers carrying more than seven
million barrels of imported gasoline are bottlenecked in ports with more on the
way.
Mexico's Energy Minister Rocio Nahle says she has no
information about this. But she admits transportation by road is slower.
President Lopez Obrador says Mexico doeshave enough fuel.
However, the infrastructure in Mexico, especially in refineries which have not
been updated in years, is failing.
The gasoline output of National Petroleum company, PEMEX,
fell thirty-three percent between January and November last year. The outlook
for this year is looking even bleaker.
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