Peru Declares Emergency on GLP Supply in South Amid Rain-Induced Disruptions

Peru's government has declared a 30-day state of emergency for the supply of liquefied petroleum gas (GLP) in five southern regions grappling with severe impacts from heavy rains and landslides. The decree, published Friday in the official El Peruano newspaper, addresses disruptions caused by blocked roads.

The emergency declaration covers hydrocarbon activities related to GLP supply in Cusco, Puno, Arequipa, Moquegua, and Tacna. The energy and mining investment regulator, OSINERGMIN, will oversee the situation. It will evaluate and implement temporary measures to guarantee supply, potentially granting exceptions to certain commercialization and safety regulations.

President Keiko Fujimori announced the emergency while in Arequipa, where she observed efforts to evacuate over a hundred people stranded by mudslides. She noted that large rocks on the affected roads would delay their reopening. Fujimori emphasized the priority of restoring the old Pan-American Highway to ensure dual access to the south, especially with the anticipated arrival of the El Niño phenomenon.

This GLP supply emergency adds to recent government actions in the energy sector. These include allocating $31 million for subsidies to passenger and cargo transporters to offset rising fuel costs. A week prior, Fujimori announced a targeted fuel subsidy of 15-20% for various transport operators, including mototaxis and river transport, as an extraordinary measure against increasing diesel and gasoline prices that had triggered a transport strike in Ucayali.