Peru aviation sector warns fuel running out

Peru’s aviation sector said on Thursday that the country’s commercial airline industry faces the risk of running out of fuel in a week due to its stock shortage caused by a prolonged shutdown of a major Repsol refinery.

The airline operators union said they are concerned about the country’s situation, and asked for “urgent support” from the government to alleviate the shortage, Reuters reported.

→ Nigerian airlines cancel some flights due to fuel shortage.

The airport sector added the country could only provide fuel for commercial aviation until March 17.

The government suspended maritime loading and unloading of crude oil for Repsol’s La Pampilla refinery after a major oil spill in mid-January. At the beginning of February, operations resumed but for only 10 days.

The Pampilla refinery provides 40% of Peru’s fuel supply, according to the company.

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“As a sector we have been making various efforts in order to ensure that the supply of aviation fuel is maintained,” the union said in a statement.

Besides the domestic issue, sanctions on Russia’s energy exports after its invasion of Ukraine have raised global energy prices and put a spotlight on countries’ domestic production capacity around the world.