Venezuela imports gasoline to does not fall victim of the economic crisis
According to the financial statements of Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA), published this month, the country exported 30,000 barrels of gasoline and naphtha per day in 2012, however, according to the Department of Energy of Venezuela, during that time, the country imported some 66,300 barrels of the same derivatives from the United States.
Despite being the fifth country with more oil reserves in the world, they spend billions of dollars a year on foreign oil due to the low production of its refineries compared to its domestic demand, especially after a fire in one of the largest refining plants in the country.
One of the reasons for the growing crisis of gasoline could be the low cost of such product in the Bolivarian country. Filling a 40-liter tank with 95-octane premium gasoline costs less than $ 1 in Venezuela. Besides having the cheapest gasoline in the world, they must import a third of its consumption, which affects its finances.
In addition, with the last two currency devaluations from 4.30 to 6.30 bolivars per dollar ordered this year by the government of Nicolas Maduro, the price of gasoline has deteriorated much more: a gallon of 95-octane gasoline now costs $ 0.015 instead of $ 0.022, at the official exchange rate.
It should be noted that the price of gasoline has never been linked to tax factors but electoral politics. For 17 years its price has been frozen.