[ad_1]
While in most of the country the restrictions on mobility that were ordered to face the pandemic led to the demand for gasoline, between January and August, to drop by up to 23 percent, in the border areas with Venezuela the behavior it was the opposite and demand for fuel increased by up to 56 percent.
The figures from Asga (application for the administration of the surcharge) also indicate that the consumption of gasoline in La Guajira, Arauca and Norte de Santander, all of them in the border area, increased by 23.6 million gallons of fuel compared to the same period in 2019.
This unusual increase in the demand for gasoline in the areas bordering the neighboring country has gone hand in hand with the fuel shortage in Venezuela, reflected in the images of long lines of vehicles waiting their turn to tank and the adoption of new restrictive measures as the peak and plate to access gasoline, which will come into effect in that country next Monday.
For former Minister of Mines Amylkar Acosta, The equation is simple, the more gasoline shortages are recorded in Venezuela, the greater pressure and speculation for fuel there will be in Colombia. He said that Venezuela went from having the cheapest gasoline to the most expensive in the world, and that reversed the historical trend of fuel smuggling from that country to the national territory.
(Also read: The new form of gasoline smuggling that worries Cúcuta)
Although this phenomenon began silently from the first quarter of the year, already in September the shortage of gasoline began to be felt in Colombia and the long lines at gasoline stations were no longer only seen in Venezuela. The inhabitants of this side of the border have already begun to feel the weight of the situation in their pockets; for example, the subsidized fuel quota for Norte de Santander granted by the Ministry of Mines is 10,883,342 gallons per month and in September that quota ended five days before the month was out, so people had to pay for fuel at the normal price.
The situation is so serious that just in the last month authorities from Arauca, Norte de Santander and La Guajira set up work groups to follow up on the issue and seek measures, together with the National Government, to confront it.
The Secretary of Mines and Energy of Norte de Santander, Olger Alberto López, warned that the figures for the sale of subsidized gasoline increased not only in the metropolitan area of Cúcuta, but also in municipalities such as Ocaña, Ábrego and Pamplona. In Tibú, gasoline reached a consumption close to 300 percent, compared to previous years. In Bucarasica, Sardinata and El Tarra, sales exceeded 100 percent.
(You may be interested: In 2020 they have seized 10 million boxes of smuggled cigars)
The Secretary of Government and Citizen Security of the department of Arauca, Merardo Tovar Altuna, indicated that on the Venezuelan side “the fuel is being paid in dollars” and that its value “even doubles the price of national fuel.” Likewise, he said that in the particular case of Arauca, because it is in the rainy season, gasoline is being carried along the banks of the Arauca River in boats.
Authorities consulted by EL TIEMPO indicated that the smuggling networks that for decades brought gasoline to Colombia now use the same trails and the same double-bottomed modalities to get it out of the country. Although The authorities have made determinations such as not selling fuel in containers or pimpines, some smugglers make multiple trips and are provisioned at different stations.
In Venezuela, fuel is being paid in dollars and its value is even double the price of national fuel
General Gustavo Franco, director of the Fiscal and Customs Police (Polfa), pointed out that an elite body was formed on the border, which coordinates with Dian. It is becoming more and more common to see uniformed officers doing checks at the stations to ensure that the tank tables are being met, and that other containers are not being used to store the gasoline that is sold. The officer noted that Technological developments are being studied, such as the creation of an app that allows for more controls.
In addition to the police measures, the possibility of the Government increasing the quotas of subsidized gasoline in those regions has been settling in the border areas.
The Secretary of Government and Citizen Security of Arauca said that in the area “the share of subsidized fuel has not been increased for many years. To this we must add that the border was closed and that because of the Arauca culture we were going to tank Venezuela, and since the border was closed, we did not tank again. To this we must add the increase in the department’s fleet of vehicles ”.
(Also: Gasoline Shortage Haunts Venezuelans Again)
However, sources from the Mines Ministry indicated that border zone quotas are assigned using a methodology that is updated every two years during the first quarter. The current methodology will be in force until March 31, 2021, so a cut in quotas is not contemplated in these regions of the country. Despite this, the sources indicated, they are monitoring the situation and evaluating measures that counteract this phenomenon and guarantee the correct use of the subsidies.
They added that the Polfa has been strengthened, which has allowed criminal structures dedicated to the illicit fuel trade to be dismantled so far in 2020., achieving the capture of 29 people and the seizure of about 120 thousand gallons of liquid fuels. Additionally, social and labor reconversion programs are being carried out aimed at people engaged in the informal fuel trade.
Former Minister Acosta pointed out that expanding fuel quotas would mean that less surcharge money would go to the same border departments and warned that any decision on fuel prices would end up affecting the social situation of the inhabitants of those marked areas. “Because of the informality and the scavenger economy.”
Other Justice notes that may interest you:
-Court meets this Friday to define what law covers the Uribe case
-Lists of rules to choose triads for a court that disciplines lawyers
-Why did Governor of Cesar go from convicted to acquitted in 68 days?
JUSTICE AND ECONOMY
* With information from the correspondent in Cúcuta, Andrés Carvajal.
On twitter: @JusticiaET
[email protected]
[ad_2]
