A Gasoline-Rich Country Withering in the Lines

This article was first published on the 27th of August 2019 by Patrick Carpen.

Venezuelans are experiencing a particular problem which could be seen as impossible in an oil-producing country: lack of gasoline. Large lines of vehicles build up at gas stations resulting in a wait-time of several hours to even days. This is the new day-to-day routine for the common citizen.

According to several economy experts and media, oil production has fallen to historical minimums due to a variety of problems in the industry which include unprepared workforce, syndicate strikes, supplies shortage and aggressive trade contracts with foreign countries.

A Complex Disaster

In addition to the aforementioned elements that have caused serious limitations in gasoline production and distribution nationwide making it scarcer in border cities and indigenous communities, the famed and historical contraband along the Colombian border is also blamed for the shortage.

One tank of almost 24,000 fuel liters of fuel costs only 1.47 bolívares soberanos (not even a cent of a US dollar) and it’s often sold for more than 10 million pesos (3.300$ roughly) at places like Boca de Grita, Orope, San Fernando, Maicao and other Venezuelan border locations. It must be noted that these tanks are sold under the vigilant watch of the National Bolivarian Guard, Colombian guerrillas and other paramilitary forces.

In addition to this “legal contraband,” common people also fuel up their vehicles in order to sell gasoline at the border, being an easy way to earn roughly the equal amount of 12$ that represents more than the monthly minimum wage stated by the national government. The risk is being jailed and charged for contraband and even high treason with undefined seasons at a normal jail or the ones of the so feared intelligence services.

Apart from the rest of the country, Caracas is not experiencing this situation at its fullest; the largest lines registered were of 2 hours maximum, while in Mérida, a city from Los Andes region, lines were registered to last for 5-6 days.

Measures taken

The logical measure is to form lines; every state in the country is doing so. But in other states, like Táchira and Mérida, people organize themselves to make lists registering an order to avoid doing lines, as they can easily reach more than three hundred cars a day. Sadly, this system didn’t work out in Táchira where the same people charged approximately 10$ for being included in a list, leading to a deeper level of corruption. Merida still manages itself by this method, though.

To control contraband, the government has implemented measures like a chip to control fuel shopping, granting a monthly amount of 200 liters for personal small vehicles and taxis, 300-500 liters for small trucks and almost 1000 liters for bus and heavy trucks. This chip system was only implemented in Táchira and whilst it is automatic and could have more control applications, it only registers the amount bought.

In Táchira, buying gas is limited by your license ending number as follows: 0-1-2-3 shall fuel Mondays and Thursdays, 4-5-6 Tuesdays and Fridays, 7-8-9 Wednesdays and Saturdays. Every number can fuel on Sundays.

You can be blocked for buying more fuel than your monthly amount, but you can pay between 50.000-100.000 pesos (16-32$ roughly) to sort it out. Also, you can pay the authorities guarding the gas stations in order to pass at any time you want but, in the case of the state of Tachira, only the days for your corresponding plate number.

In conclusion, we can say that Venezuela has a really complex panorama, surviving with informality in almost every aspect of life: health, economy, politics, security, welfare.

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