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The Minister of Hydrocarbons and Energy of Bolivia, Marcelo Blanco, reported that they are awaiting an operational window to discharge more than 40 million liters of fuel through the submarine pipeline of the Sica Sica terminal, managed by Yacimientos Petrolíferos Fiscales Bolivianos (YPFB) in Arica, Chile.
This infrastructure, it should be remembered, operates under a special concession regime derived from bilateral agreements between both nations, which grants the Bolivian state company its own facilities in Chilean territory for the import and export of hydrocarbons. However, mooring and unloading maneuvers in the multi-buoy system are subject to the regulation and authorization of the Chilean Navy.
In this regard, the Sica Sica terminal – an open-sea facility, technically and operationally independent of the Port of Arica – has been affected by high waves. The wave height exceeded the safety thresholds set for fuel discharge, making mooring and the start of operations impossible.
"We have no problems with gasoline. According to the information provided to me by the person in charge of buying fuels, who is the president of YPFB, there are approximately 48 million liters, more than 40 million liters in the Port of Arica. There was a logistical problem, windows have to be opened for the ship to enter, otherwise, the ship won't enter due to the tide," Minister Marcelo Blanco communicated.
Once the setback is overcome, the authority of the Andean country expects the fuel to be brought into Bolivia at a rate of 100 trucks per day. However, he avoided setting a date for the total normalization of supply given the dependence on an improvement in maritime conditions on the coast of Arica.
To date, the National Port Situation (Sitport) platform – administered by the General Directorate of the Maritime Territory and Merchant Marine of Chile (Directemar) – indicates that the bay of Arica is open and without operational restrictions. However, according to real-time maritime traffic data from MarineTraffic, the multi-buoy mooring area of the Sica Sica Terminal remains unoccupied and without activity.
By way of comparison, the Port of Arica is operating normally and serving two vessels: The EA Gatun at Berth N°2 and the Suez Canal at Berth N°4. Likewise, shipping planning contemplates the arrival of two other vessels in the coming days, these being the general cargo ship FM Prosperity (Friday, July 24) and the container ship Maliakos (Saturday, July 25).
Currently, two oil tankers – the Sauri and the Odyssean – remain at anchor in the bay of Arica. According to maritime monitoring platforms, this state of inactivity at anchor has continued uninterrupted for months.
It should be noted that, last May, PortalPortuario warned about the presence in Arica of the Sauri (IMO 9266475) for being a sanctioned vessel associated with Russia's ghost fleet. According to the Ukrainian website War Sanctions, the unit would be dedicated to transporting Russian crude and petroleum products from strategic ports in the Baltic and Black Seas, violating the embargo and price cap policy of the G7+.
