If You Travel to Mexico, Maybe Don’t Rent A Car
Jackie Reddy January 10, 2019
Fuel theft has caused a gas shortage in Mexico. The nation’s pipelines have long been targeted by thieves and in an effort to stem the situation, the Mexican government has shut some lines to better map where thefts are occurring. This, of course, has had an impact on industry and motorists alike.
An attempt to stop fuel theft has led to on-going gas shortages in Mexico, Reuters reports. This has prompted leaders across a variety of sectors to warn that certain industries will suffer as a result of the shortage. The Mexican auto industry and motorists alike have been particularly hard-hit by the current situation.
It is reported the nation’s pipeline network – run by Petroleos Mexicanos (Pemex), the country’s state oil company – has been illegally tapped by thieves for a number of years. The news agency reports that tanker trucks have also been hit by thieves.
In an effort to stem the thefts, the Mexican government has shut pipelines in several areas, a move that has resulted in widespread shortages. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who has dispatched army units to defend Pemex oil installations around the country, is attempting to offer assurances that instances of theft are dropping.
Speaking in a recent news conference, Lopez Obrador was quoted by the agency as saying, “It would be easy to open the pipes and say: ‘The situation is normal again,’ but we will not knowingly allow the theft to persist… We’ll resist all pressures, whatever they are.”
However, the tactics employed by the government are having a real impact on the nation’s manufacturers. Alfredo Arzola, who serves as head of the state of Guanajuato’s car industry hub, was blunt in his assessment of the current situation.
“Investments are being put at risk,” he stated.
The nation’s motorists have also had to contend with long lines and uncertain waits for fuel. In Mexico City, Ernesto Villanueva explained to the news agency that his search for gas had seen him make his way from the suburbs to the heart of the capital.
“It’s a bit easier to get at night, but last night already the gas was finished in that area. I’m telling my teammates to come here, buy a jug and we can stock up,” he said.
[Image: Luke Airforce Base]
Some things never change. During my Tucson days and taking my car to Sonora for those extended weekend dive trips we used to always bring a few jerry cans of fuel to make sure we didn't get stuck somewhere along Hwy. 15. That was probably the best military surplus DRMO purchase I ever made, those gas cans.
Corruption is a huge problem in Mexico. The fuel thefts have been going on for a long time and no one thought to try and do anything about it? Pemex could, of course, monitor and provide security for it's own gas distribution system, double checking invoices, carriers, pipelines, refineries, etc, but hasn't? It's unbelievable to me that Pemex and it's employees are blameless. When you buy and sell any commodity, from coal to oil, it's normal to keep good records of production, inventory and sales. Instead of cutting off pipelines, why not build a wall around them? Maybe they can get the USA to pay for it.
Electric cars anyone?
Surely the best way to deal with it is to prepay fuel and then to not use a full tank, so the refuelling becomes the hire car company's problem?
LOL! I thought this article was going to be about all the rental car scams going on in Mexico (experienced this myself BTW). I had no idea that once you finally get through the nightmare of renting a car in Mexico that getting gas would be an issue because people are stealing it from the source! I love Mexico and hate that things are getting worse down there by the day.