BajaNomad

Mexico begins rationing gasoline to station owners

bajabound2005 - 7-8-2008 at 08:01 AM

Mexico begins rationing gasoline to station owners


By Omar Millán González
UNION-TRIBUNE

July 8, 2008

TIJUANA – Mexico's national oil monopoly began to ration the supply of gasoline in the Baja California region yesterday, much as it has limited diesel deliveries for several weeks.
Joaquín Aviña, president of the Association of Gas Station Owners of Tijuana, which represents 157 stations, said Pemex told the stations it would supply them according to their sales from January to March, without taking into account current demand.

He said that sales during that period, normally a slow time, were far below what they are now.

"This short-sighted approach could generate chaos similar to what we're currently experiencing with diesel," Aviña said.

Aviña said demand for diesel has gone up 36 percent in the first six months of this year, compared with the same period of 2007, while gasoline sales spiked 25 percent. Pemex has confirmed those numbers.

Some 20 gas station owners held a closed-door meeting yesterday morning with Arturo Gómez, the commercial division chief at the Pemex plant in Rosarito Beach. He told them gasoline was being rationed because of distribution problems, two owners said afterward.

However, Aviña said Pemex is taking a protectionist position to force the region's gas stations to stop selling subsidized gasoline and diesel to drivers from the United States.

The Mexican government heavily subsidizes fuel to protect transportation from international market forces, which have driven up fuel prices in the United States to unprecedented levels.

According to Mexico's consumer protection agency, it's against the law to limit or discriminate in the sale of products.

The shift supervisors and managers of several stations in Tijuana and Rosarito Beach said they received only one of their three routine deliveries yesterday, of 5,200 gallons each.

Juan José García, shift supervisor of a station in Rosarito Beach, said Pemex cut his deliveries by two-thirds yesterday. The reason he was given is a forthcoming restructuring of the distribution system.

His station had run out of diesel and premium gasoline by 1 p.m., he said, while the demand for regular unleaded gasoline was growing at a rapid pace.

David K - 7-8-2008 at 08:10 AM

I am glad that there are plenty of vacation destinations in the United States! We leave for Vegas and Yellowstone in 11 days! I hope the best for Baja and tourism there... but fuel shortages on top of multiple murders in Tijuana, the new detours off the easy way through town, etc., etc. will not help one bit!

For those heading way south, if Antonio has good supply at El Rosario, then cross with a full tank and the 225 miles to his station is a sinch. Then L.A. Bay or Guerrero Negro would be the next points for necessary fuel stops.

bancoduo - 7-8-2008 at 08:55 AM

I think it's a build up to a price increase. It generally happens at midnight on a Saturday without warning.

Al G - 7-8-2008 at 09:04 AM

DK...can you contact Antonio to see if he will report here if his supply is affected? I will be over nighting there around the 27th.

A Question for Antonio

CaboRon - 7-8-2008 at 09:52 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Al G
DK...can you contact Antonio to see if he will report here if his supply is affected? I will be over nighting there around the 27th.


Al,

If you fill up before crossing the border you should have no trouble reaching Baja Cactus ... I even made it in my gas sucking full blown Bronco.

Hopefully this is just border business ... and they must understand that in the interior people need to fill up for those long trip legs.





Antonio assured us recently that he has gas and diesel ... maybe he can post a response that is a little more current.

Antonio ??? Wherefore are thou ??? :?:

Good Luck to all who search for gas,

CaboRon





[Edited on 7-8-2008 by CaboRon]

BajaGringo - 7-8-2008 at 10:09 AM

I just filled up in Rosarito. No shortage, no lines, no limit...

fishbuck - 7-8-2008 at 10:35 AM

Filled up in San Quintin on last Sat and Sun no problem.
Stopped at the new Los Pinos station on my way to Bola. A cute girl flirted with me, ask me if I was married.;D
Anyway, At Bola my truck needed a sip to get back to SQ. Stopped at the first station on the right leaving town. No one came out. I washed my window and waited but no action. Another cute girl flirted with me but still no fuel. So I went to the other station and the kid put Premium in instead of magna.
I think they were out of magna and the other station was completely out of fuel.
It might have been close without the premium but I think I could have made it to Baja Cactus. I think I can make Bola round trip from the Cactus and might try it on my next trip.
Antonio needs to hire some cute girls to flirt with me at his gas station.
:yes:

[Edited on 7-8-2008 by fishbuck]

Osprey - 7-8-2008 at 10:45 AM

Fishbuck, that's happened to me. It's the desert heat. It will sneak up on you. The Baja can get ya. The girls all start lookin like it's very near closin time at Coyote Ugly. Kinda like a mirage.

Al G - 7-8-2008 at 10:47 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by fishbuck

"Antonio needs to hire some cute girls to flirt with me at his gas station."
:yes:


Now that is something to partition for!!!;D

Cypress - 7-8-2008 at 10:48 AM

The Mexican govt. intends to drop/adjust the fuel subsidies in Sept.:O Cute girls?:?:The station owners might need to hire some ugly men to protect their interests.:O

fishbuck - 7-8-2008 at 11:00 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Osprey
Fishbuck, that's happened to me. It's the desert heat. It will sneak up on you. The Baja can get ya. The girls all start lookin like it's very near closin time at Coyote Ugly. Kinda like a mirage.


That's okay. They only have to trick me for a few minutes!;D
Then after that I'll cut my own arm off to escape if necessary. I've done it before.:lol:

[Edited on 7-8-2008 by fishbuck]

fishbuck - 7-8-2008 at 11:09 AM

Hey Grover! How did you get a picture of me in my new "Nightbuck" outfit?
I normally only wear that in TJ after midnite on La Revo!

toneart - 7-8-2008 at 12:24 PM

The video camera operator had a good eye and a steady hand for keeping the posterior region in his sights. It kept my interest. I even played it over again.;D

Cypress - 7-8-2008 at 12:29 PM

lencho, Yep! Ugly might be an understatement.:(

Russ - 7-8-2008 at 12:59 PM

Just got boat gas in Santa Rosalia at the newer station by the harbor and they didn't have Magna.

Debra - 7-8-2008 at 01:17 PM

Fishbuck, The first station you stopped at is "self service" you needed to go and give them money first, then they turn the pump on for you. Return to collect you change.

CaboRon - 7-8-2008 at 02:50 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by lencho
Quote:
Originally posted by Cypress
The Mexican govt. intends to drop/adjust the fuel subsidies in Sept.:O

Drop them? This I gotta see. If that ever happens, things are gonna get ugly...

--Larry


If you don't have them already , get locking gas caps .... and in addition I also have put spring steel coils down the filler tube so you can't slip a hose into the tank.

Any other ideas for gas security ??

CaboRon

Diver - 7-8-2008 at 03:14 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by CaboRon
Any other ideas for gas security ??
CaboRon


I had an old Ford pick-up years ago and someone was steeling my gas. I removed the hose that connected the fill port to the fuel tank and added a gas cap to the tube end. I then connected the fuel fill port to a 5 gallon jug of water with a little gas on top.
3 days later, I was awoken to the sound of someone repeatedly cranking their car in my alley. Of course it wouldn't start with water in the fuel but this allowed the cops plenty of time to get there !!

The Gull - 7-8-2008 at 04:17 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by BajaGringo
I just filled up in Rosarito. No shortage, no lines, no limit...


I wish you didn't post such alarming and contrary positions. No doubt you have caused a run on Rosarito gas stations as a result. How evil!!!!!!

Don Alley - 7-8-2008 at 05:38 PM

Yesterday in Loreto, about noonish, the newer station on Padre Kino was out and a barrier across the entrance. The station on Salvatierra was out of Magna, but expected some later in the day. The station on Juarez had magna, and even had customers for a change.

There is a brand new station on the highway too. It's finished! But they haven't gotten their first shipment yet. I hear they need permits.:rolleyes::lol:

David K - 7-8-2008 at 06:12 PM

Try Antonio at his email... I have tried to reach him numerous times without answer... With the craziness in TJ, I wish he and his family would move to El Rosario! No movie theatre, but safe!

Antonio, is at info@bajacactus.com

fishbuck - 7-8-2008 at 06:14 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Debra
Fishbuck, The first station you stopped at is "self service" you needed to go and give them money first, then they turn the pump on for you. Return to collect you change.


Doh!

Roasty - 7-9-2008 at 06:06 PM

As of Monday at 10:30AM the older Pemex in LA Bay had run out of gas but had deisel, and the newer one had gas but no diesel.
Topped up at El Rosario, but saw lines of trucks thru San Quintin to Colonet.
Topped up again in Vincente Guerrero (sp) but that was it.
No mas it appeared all the way to the border.

Cypress - 7-9-2008 at 09:17 PM

morgaine7, I heard it on the radio.:)One of those radio talk shows.:)