And while they were able to get to Melchor with ease - it hasn't been that easy for fuel tankers bringing regular gas to Belize.
As we told you last night - Belize is sourcing fuel by road from Guatemala after a disruption in supply from Venezuela's oil company, PDVSA. That's the source PUMA activated - since they are responsible for all of Belize's fuel imports. Last night we showed you the tanker trucks queued up at PUMA's Depot in Belize City.
But, now there are reportedly strikes in Guatemala over the road to Melchor which has not been paved as was promised - so that road is blocked. There are now discussions to truck in the fuel through Jalacte if that situation doesn't get resolved.
Before that mess became known, PUMA put out a release this morning saying, quote, "Our diesel and jet fuel inventories are at normal levels after having received a vessel this weekend....we are expecting the offload of a PDVSA vessel in the next several days. As part of our commitment to ensure supply to the country of Belize we are importing gasoline by trucks from our neighboring countries as a precautionary measure. Additionally, we will receive another vessel with gasolines this weekend.
We do not anticipate any supply disruptions this week and ensure consumers that product is available in the country." End quote. But, while that is the official position, our sources say that if those fuel tankers from Guatemala don't make it in - then we could face shortages by weekend. We'll keep following the story.
