U.S. drivers buy cheaper, stock up
By Omar Millán González
UNION-TRIBUNE
August 7, 2008
TIJUANA – Gas station owners in Tijuana and Rosarito have agreed to restrict gasoline sales for external containers, hindering Americans looking to
take lower-cost, government-subsidized fuel back to the United States.
The owners said they now will only dispense fuel in containers of 50 liters or more if the driver has a permit from Civil Protection, the agency that
oversees security measures.
This week, the president of the Tijuana Gasoline Station Owners Association, Joaquín Aviña, circulated a document to all local gas stations that
explained the new policy and told how customers can contact Civil Protection if they want a permit.
The office of the Federal Attorney for Consumer Protection accepted the new restriction during a meeting last week with top Pemex officials.
Pemex is Mexico's state-owned oil monopoly.
Gas stations still must sell gasoline and diesel to all drivers who want to fill their tanks, the consumer protection agency warned. The new measure
applies only to customers looking to fill external tanks.
Gilberto Aldrete Núñez, manager of two gas stations on the Tijuana-Ensenada highway, said stations are being monitored by the consumer protection and
civil protection agencies to verify compliance with the new policy.
In June and July, Baja California experienced a severe crisis due to a fuel shortage after the Pemex terminal in Rosarito ran out of fuel.
After the recent spike in fuel prices in California, the demand for gasoline and diesel at gas stations in Tijuana and the rest of Baja California
climbed 38 percent compared with the same period in 2007, according to the latest data from the consumer protection agency and Pemex.
At the Express Performance Center in Santee, store manager James Blue said he's seen a drop in demand for secondary gas tanks, which customers were
snapping up as recently as June to fill up on Mexican fuel.
Blue said he was taking three to six calls a day from customers interested in installing the tanks, which run $1,100 to $2,100 apiece. Now, he's
getting the same number of calls each week.
He attributes the slowdown to falling diesel prices and fuel shortages in Mexico in June and July. The new restriction could push sales down even
further, he said, but he's not surprised by it.
“The Mexican government is losing money like crazy,” he said. “They've got to figure out some way of stopping it.”
--------------------------------------------------------------------------Omar Millán González is a contributor to the Union-Tribune's
Spanish-language newspaper, Enlace. Staff writer Michele Clock contributed to this report.rpleger - 8-7-2008 at 07:29 AM
It's about time they did something about this...CaboRon - 8-7-2008 at 07:43 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by rpleger
It's about time they did something about this...
They can start by dropping the subsidy and letting the maket determine the price ....
CaboRonSharksbaja - 8-7-2008 at 12:08 PM
Where do you get those 49 liter containers?sanluquëna - 8-7-2008 at 01:15 PM
So, all the people who bring down their dirt bikes, ATV's and dune buggies, and use gas cans to refuel them are now SOL?BajaWarrior - 8-7-2008 at 03:09 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by sanluquëna
So, all the people who bring down their dirt bikes, ATV's and dune buggies, and use gas cans to refuel them are now SOL?
Exactly!
Because crossing the border with gas is not permitted!
What a joke!mtgoat666 - 8-7-2008 at 03:19 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by sanluquëna
So, all the people who bring down their dirt bikes, ATV's and dune buggies, and use gas cans to refuel them are now SOL?
Excellent news! Finally some peace and quiet
enjoy it while it lastsDanO - 8-7-2008 at 03:30 PM
Originally posted by rpleger
It's about time they did something about this...
They can start by dropping the subsidy and letting the maket determine the price ....
CaboRon
Get ready to share the road with more bike riders... BajaWarrior - 8-7-2008 at 08:27 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by sanluquëna
So, all the people who bring down their dirt bikes, ATV's and dune buggies, and use gas cans to refuel them are now SOL?
What about the Ranchers who live in a remote area or the Fishermen who fill several large barrels at a time. or is this just one of those Gringo
things?BornFisher - 8-7-2008 at 08:28 PM
Well 49 liters is about 12 gal of gas. Should be able to fuel an ATV for awhile (and a little bribe may work in a pinch!!).Taco de Baja - 8-8-2008 at 07:47 AM
I sure hope they don't do this at Baja Cactus.
We count on getting the extra containers filled to get us in and out of remote areas.
One week and counting bajalou - 8-8-2008 at 08:22 AM
From the article it sounds like just in Tijuana-Roserito areas. No mention of Ensendad south or Mexicali. I expect any farmers/fishermen in the area
would just get the permit that was mentioned. Don't expect it's a real big deal (though a bit of a bother) to the businesses in the area.
If you have auxiliary tanks in a pickup and really want them filled, ad a transfer pump from the main tanks to the aux. Fill up the regular, drive to
the Ley's parking lot and transfer it to the aux., then go to the next station and fill up again.bajalou - 8-8-2008 at 08:24 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by Taco de Baja
One week and counting
Have a great trip Taco (as you always do)
Whar ya headed ???
beercan - 8-8-2008 at 08:31 AM
Quote:
by Taco
One week and counting
Taco de Baja - 8-8-2008 at 08:59 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by beercan
Whar ya headed ???
Quote:
by Taco
One week and counting
Unmentionable location in the general vicinity of the 7 sisters....Shhhh
Excellent news! Finally some peace and quiet 
