Sept. 3 (UPI) -- Bolivia's government ordered an intervention of state oil company Yacimientos Petrolíferos Fiscales Bolivianos, or YPFB, because of the persistent diesel and gasoline shortage affecting the country.
The government intervention announced Wednesday is intended to audit and reorganize the import and distribution chain to resolve the country's persistent fuel shortages.
The measure seeks to efficiently regularize the fuel quotas allocated to different service stations, Bolivian Hydrocarbons and Energy Minister Marcelo Blanco said at a news conference, according to local broadcaster Red Uno.
The Hydrocarbons and Energy Ministry will have up to 180 days to complete the task, although it has the exceptional authority to extend the period by another 90 days if the causes of the shortage persist.
Blanco justified the intervention of the state entities by pointing to structural failures and alleged the existence of corruption networks both within and outside the supply chain, El Deber newspaper reported.
"We have no time to lose," Blanco said, adding that the restructuring and the intervention commission must produce immediate results amid the national crisis.
Blanco confirmed that the underlying plan involves a radical change to the state-run model. He explained that the government intends for YPFB to return to its natural role and stop marketing hydrocarbons because it was not created for that purpose.
The government of Rodrigo Paz plans to gradually transfer YPFB's marketing role to the private sector, including everything from international purchases to local retail sales.
The long-term plan seeks to have the state company focus exclusively on the technical tasks of domestic extraction, exploration and refining.
Bolivia imports about 60% of the gasoline and 95% of the diesel it consumes. The energy sector faces deep financial and institutional problems, reflected in the turnover of three YPFB presidents in less than 10 months of the presidential administration, Unitel reported.
The government recently doubled the price of diesel to $1.50 per liter to curb smuggling, triggering roadblocks and protests by farming and transportation groups.