Ecuador denies structural fuel shortage, blames demand surge

Ecuador's fuel supply system is stable, and the country did not experience a structural shortage of gasoline in May, according to Vice Minister of Hydrocarbons Eduardo Racines. He clarified that while some service stations faced inventory pressures, the overall availability of fuel remained consistent.

Racines explained that the perceived scarcity was driven by a surge in citizen demand, fueled by fears of a shortage. This increased purchasing led to rapid depletion of assigned quotas and available stock at specific locations. "Dispatches have been normal. What we have done is strengthen inventories and better control distribution," he stated in an interview.

This situation followed a period in May when long lines appeared at gas stations in Quito, Guayaquil, and other cities. At that time, fuel distributors reported delivery restrictions and reduced quotas, raising alarms about potential shortages. The episode coincided with a partial shutdown of the Esmeraldas refinery and increased reliance on fuel imports amid a complex international energy market.

In response to the May events, the Ministry of Hydrocarbons has increased available quotas and reinforced inventories at both storage terminals and private distributors. Racines assured that these measures have bolstered the energy sector's response capacity. The price of gasoline, he added, remains dependent on the international market.

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Dispatches have been normal. What we have done is strengthen inventories and better control distribution.