Heavy transport and logistics unions estimate losses of $15 million a month due to “possible diesel shortages”

Concerns over a “possible diesel shortage” have alerted the heavy transport and logistics sector, which they predict will affect the country’s manufacturing sector, with losses estimated at approximately $15 million a month. And they claim that this is due to the system of imposing quotas for 455 gas stations across the country, for which they are requesting a review of the measure.

The Agency for the Regulation and Control of Energy and Non-Renewable Natural Resources (Arcernnr) announced in the second week of this month that to prevent the illegal and improper use of premium diesel, a quota was introduced for 455 gas stations across the country, before there were 109 gas stations.

The premium diesel quota was increased to 166 gas stations due to the start of classes in Sierra and the pilgrimage in Loja

However, the Agency reported this week that due to the start of classes in Sierra, the pilgrimage to Loja for the Virgen de El Cisne and other “special” situations, it has decided to increase the premium diesel quota at 166 gas stations across the country. .

According to the state entity, the measure was taken after meetings held from August 18 to 24 with the Ministry of Energy and Mining, the Tax Administration (SRI) and Petroecuador.

From the Ecuadorian Chamber of Freight Carriers and Logistics Companies, they strongly reject “that the authorities are taking these types of actions that indicate a complete ignorance of the dynamics in the supply chain, forcing more than 200,000 carriers to partially suspend their work because they do not have enough fuel to serve you. The losses are estimated at approx. 15 million dollars a month.”

In the press release, published on August 25, they regretfully inform that in the coming days the situation will affect all production sectors, which depend on the timely distribution of inputs, raw materials, goods, medicines, basic foodstuffs and domestic products. of gas, because “they cannot be mobilized and delivered to sales points in time”.

For its part, the National Federation of Heavy Transport of Ecuador (Fenatrape), through a letter sent to the state portfolio last Monday, expressed the “deep concern” its members have “about the possible shortage of diesel that I would present nationally.”

The union claims that the situation arose “as a consequence of the validity of the measure ordered by the (state) portfolio and the Agency for Regulation and Control of Energy, which would generate quotas in the sale of diesel for gas stations, quotas that would not meet the demand for fuel that ( those) vehicles need for their work”.

Fenatrape also stressed that heavy transport has “cross-cutting implications for the country’s logistics in all commercial and manufacturing sectors, for which fuel shortages will directly and seriously affect the country’s national production and economy.”

Gas stations with quotas for the sale of premium diesel increased from 109 to 455 in less than a month, most of them in Pichincha

The National Chamber of Distributors of Petroleum Products of Ecuador (Camddepe) also joined the transporters’ request to “immediately suspend the system that allocates diesel quotas” to gas stations.

The gas station union presented eight points of arguments for which it is requesting a review of the measure, among which were that “with great surprise” they found out about the determination of quotas without taking into account that “they are part of the public service, therefore, we are obliged to ship fuel by cars (whether private , transport or cargo) that need it”, so – they say – they are not responsible for the “shortage to fulfill all requirements”.

Questions and answers Elections 2023