Lawmaker: Ex-President Arce Responsible for "Garbage Gasoline" Imports Since 2022

Former Bolivian President Luis Arce is being pointed to as a "presumed responsible" party in the scandal of imported "garbage gasoline" that began in 2022. Lawmaker Ximena Arispe stated that Arce signed two decrees in 2022 that relaxed quality controls, leading to the issue.

Arispe, who chaired the special commission investigating the scandal, explained that while her commission has identified Arce as a presumed responsible party, the determination of his actual culpability now rests with the justice system. The Chamber of Deputies unanimously approved the commission's report on Thursday, which details the import and distribution of the substandard fuel, commonly referred to as "gasolina basura" by the public.

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In this report, we name former President Luis Arce Catacora as a presumed responsible party for two decrees that were signed during his administration (in 2022). It is no longer our responsibility; it is now up to the justice system to determine the degree of responsibility.

The commission's findings will be forwarded to the Prosecutor's Office and the Comptroller General's Office for further investigation. Arispe noted that initial complaints about the gasoline emerged in 2022. She also pointed to negligence in quality control, maintenance of storage tanks, and laboratory capacity as contributing factors to the problem.

Regarding current administration officials, Arispe was cautious, stating that President Rodrigo Paz has focused on finding those responsible. She mentioned that former minister Mauricio Medinaceli had reported the issue to the prosecutor's office without action, indicating a broader pattern of neglect among other authorities. Arispe also highlighted that some YPFB (state oil company) personnel with long tenures, up to 25 years, continue to work at the company, though finding specialized hydrocarbon technicians not previously associated with the MAS party is reportedly difficult.

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The carelessness in quality control, the neglect in maintenance, not only of storage tanks but also of products, we have also found a lack of capacity in the control laboratories.