Chile Forum

.
Anyone considering traveling to and around Argentina, the fuel shortages continue and in some cases worsen.

In the patagonia we cross over to Sta Cruz province (nearby Río Turbio, we have fast-track permits to get to and from) to tank up with much cheaper Argie fuel. But the lines are getting worse.

And prices are up. In the northern and central provinces, up to 6.2 AR pesos per litre for premium though 4.7 AR pesos per litre is more typical. In Chubut, Sta Cruz, TdF provinces there is special (lower) pricing. But on average in Argentina, gasoline and diesel have gone up about 25% in just about a year.

Fuel shortages in the following Argentine provinces are reported: Mendoza, Salta, Catamarca, Córdoba, Santiago del Estero and San Juan. In Bs As province critical shortages and long lines reported along major routes, esp Ruta 5. Some station owners are requesting police protection.

The news is reporting the cause as an extended petroleum workers' strike down here in Santa Cruz province. One paper is calling this "..conflictos sociales en el norte de Santa Cruz." The government is complaining that this is just a media campaign against the government, insisting that there is excessive demand and the problem is inability to distribute fuel quickly enough for demand.

Not just gasoline and diesel are affected. Reports of shortages of bottled gas as well in places.

Just a heads-up in case folks are planning travel. Check ahead.

Ahhhh yes. Currency debasement and/or Carter-esque price controls. Coming soon to a place near you?

John Hyre, Surely It's All Bush's Fault

JHyre wrote:Ahhhh yes. Currency debasement and/or Carter-esque price controls. Coming soon to a place near you?

John Hyre, Surely It's All Bush's Fault

Oh, well, Argentina is nearby.... good to discuss. Also relates to opinions of those who believe Argentina will be willing to sell hydrocarbons to Chile in future crunch -- when Argentina is now in hydrocarbon deficit ?? Actually Argentina does export some crude, but imports the processed material. And they are running up against a wall.

No - Chile is just plain screwed on the future hydrocarbon energy front. And without hydrocarbons in adequate types and quantities, Chile's tenuous grasp on modern civilisation slips away.

Article this month: Argentina Energy Profile: Production Declining While Demand Growing – Analysis

Argentina is South America’s largest natural gas producer and a significant producer of oil. However, the heavily regulated energy sector includes policies that limit the industry’s attractiveness to private investors while shielding consumers from rising prices. Consequently, demand for energy in Argentina’s rapidly growing economy continues to rise while production of both oil and gas are in decline – leading Argentina to depend increasingly upon energy imports.

Argentina consumed an estimated 3.3 quadrillion British thermal units (Btu) of energy in 2008, relative to 3.6 quadrillion Btu of total energy produced. Natural gas – used widely in the electricity, industrial, and residential sectors, and increasingly in transportation – comprises approximately one-half of Argentina’s total energy consumption. Much of the remainder of total energy demand is met by oil, which is a dominant fuel in the transportation sector. Smaller shares of the country’s total energy consumption are attributable to nuclear, coal, hydropower, and other renewable resources that are used for electricity generation, and biofuels for transportation.

rest of article here http://www.eurasiareview.com/argentina- ... -07072011/

Does anyone (Px?) have a current update on the fuel shortages in Argentina? My own internet search incompetence has only managed to find articles from the middle of July or thereabouts, and finding someone in Argentina to reply to my emails is difficult. I'm looking to travel to La Rioja or thereabouts this weekend.

Thanks.

ryanar wrote:Does anyone (Px?) have a current update on the fuel shortages in Argentina? My own internet search incompetence has only managed to find articles from the middle of July or thereabouts, and finding someone in Argentina to reply to my emails is difficult. I'm looking to travel to La Rioja or thereabouts this weekend.

Thanks.

The most recent article I found was for the end of July and it focused only on increasing prices. The "gasolina 95" grade was mentioned in the article as selling for 1.331 euros per litre. Gasoline in the past five years has gone up nearly 100 percent in price in that part of Argentina.

In the July 31 article there was no mention of the long lines we discussed earlier. However, in other La Rioja regional press articles as late as 24 July covering areas such as Chilecito, there were still shortages and long lines reported, which were complicating the holiday travel season there.

http://www.larioja.com/v/20110731/rioja ... 10731.html

On 23 July there was mention of arrival of increased fuel supplies for the region:
http://www.diariodecuyo.com.ar/home/new ... _id=471347

I did not find any mention for long lines and severe shortages for August 2011 for La Rioja province. That doesn't mean you might not have trouble, only that I am not seeing the large number of media reports that we did see around mid July about the shortages.

Hope that is useful - if not exactly conclusive

/px

.
A bump on this topic since it's high season and some foreros are driving in Argentina, or plan to. The following relates to Sta Cruz province but it may affect other provinces as well. I just finished driving almost the entire length of the province, south to north and back again. More than 3000 km.

First is the previous issue of fuel supply. It seems to have gotten worse in Sta Cruz. The lines can be long if they have fuel and long even if they don't.

The YPF stations that used to accept credit cards .... don't any longer. And during this trip, the YPF stations were either out of gasoline altogether, or had only premium grade, or were limiting purchases to 100 pesos' worth (Argie pesos, naturally) if they had gasoline at all. And the lines can be long. At one station I was able to get two shots of 100 pesos each without getting back into the line. My truck doesn't go very far on 100 pesos' worth of Argie nafta.

At two Petrobras stations I was able to use a credit card, and get unlimited fuel. However, on the return trip the Petrobras station was completely out of fuel (Puerto San Julián). In fact yesterday morning all the stations in Pto San Julián were completely out and I had just enough fuel to get me to Piedrabuena. The wise folks will tank up at EVERY opportunity out in the desolation that is Sta Cruz, and that means filling up at night when reaching a point rather than waiting until morning.

I observed several Argie-plated vehicles carrying several fuel bidones. One had a roof-rack with at least 50 litres sitting up there in plastic bidones...

Issue number two is changing money for Argie pesos. In none of the Argie towns in Sta Cruz would banks nor hotels nor even shady characters under dim streetlights nor anybody change US dollars or CL pesos into Argie pesos. Thanks to the Peronists, of course. Fortunately my Chilean bank card let me use the ATM and I was thus able to get Argie pesos.

Issue number three is mechanics. I needed some emergency work on dragging rear brakes. Do you think I could find a mechanic in Pto San Julián? Not on your life. Went to six garages. Mechanics all on holiday. Except one, working out of his home shop. Bless his heart.

Issue number four is wreckage. I have had guanacos run out if front of me in the past. But I don't remember seeing so many guanacos dining right along the roadway, close enough to spit at my mirrors. At 110 km/hr you don't have much reaction time, and it can be hard to see them in their desert camouflage. You don't want to hit a guanaco . It is the desire of every guanaco to sacrifice itself by taking out the grill work and headlights on Toyota pickup trucks. Or so it would seem, judging by the carnage along Ruta 3.

Be careful out there.

is this impacting the north? im planning on Pisco elqui - san juan - mendoza - santiago in 4 weeks time....

zer0nz wrote:is this impacting the north? im planning on Pisco elqui - san juan - mendoza - santiago in 4 weeks time....

In recent months there have been fuel supply problems throughout much of Argentina, along with price increases, and we are in high season for Argie summer holiday travel, so it would not surprise me if the areas you mentioned are also affected.

If we check the papers in the NW of Argentina there are stories of recent fuel scarcity on and off:

http://www.elintransigente.com/notas/20 ... 120522.asp
http://www.diariolarepublica.com.ar/not ... p?i=179374

Issue number two is changing money for Argie pesos. In none of the Argie towns in Sta Cruz would banks nor hotels nor even shady characters under dim streetlights nor anybody change US dollars or CL pesos into Argie pesos. Thanks to the Peronists, of course. Fortunately my Chilean bank card let me use the ATM and I was thus able to get Argie pesos.

Why is it so hard to get Argentine pesos? I thought they were short of dollars. We might try to get over in February if DH can manage the trip.

Donnybrook wrote:

Why is it so hard to get Argentine pesos? I thought they were short of dollars. We might try to get over in February if DH can manage the trip.

In Argentina, to buy dollars is often a statement of lack of confidence in the Argie currency. So the Argie government has placed controls on purchase of dollars.

It's also perhaps inadvertently a measure to discourage tourism.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-15532101

zer0nz wrote:is this impacting the north? im planning on Pisco elqui - san juan - mendoza - santiago in 4 weeks time....

I can ask an Argie here in Pisco Elqui how the situation is on the other side.
But, its 200km from the last pump on their side to Pisco Elqui, so there must be fuel available, otherwise they wouldn't be here.

I was in Bariloche a few weeks ago and had no trouble (or lines) at one of the local YPF's, purchasing using my credit card.