Fuel shortages caused by striking coffee farmers across southern Colombia have compelled the Colombian government to purchase 1.26 million gallons of gasoline from Ecuador.
According to media reports, the shortages reportedly revolve around Nariño department, in Colombia’s south-west. Colombia Reports was told that in the southern Caqueta department universities had to be closed because the city ran out of gasoline.
The Colombian government made the purchase from the Ecuadorean state-owned Petroecuador, which began transporting the fuel to Colombia’s south on Thursday. The Ecuadorian oil giant intends to dispatch 25 tankers a day for five days to fulfill the delivery, which will be split equally between gasoline and diesel fuel.
Colombia’s Energy and Mining ministry reportedly negotiated a purchase price of $4.70 per gallon for gasoline and $4.30 for diesel.
The coffee farmers began striking due to what they believe to be a lack of government support for an industry that has been hit hard by a multitude of factors including low global coffee prices and flooding.
Attempts by the police to violently remove protesters from public spaces and motorways have led to fierce responses on social media platforms.
MORE: Colombians turn to Facebook to share painful, violent side of coffee strike
Sources
- Interview with student from Florencia, Caqueta