Source: El Universal - Venezuela - 14/11/2009

07:48 PM Bogota.- A hundred Colombian gas stations remain closed since the jueves because “contrabando nos quebró”, says Maria Eugenia Martínez, leader of a federation of fuel distributors.

“Cerraron because the business is not viable, there the fuel distribution in the business has legally established… I still have informality, I say to the AP in a telephone conversation Martínez, director of the National Federation of Oil Derivatives Distributors in the oil department of Norte de Santander (Fendipetróleo), review AP.

Of the 111 gas stations that exist in the department of the North of Santander, about 400 kilometers to the north-east of Bogotá, “only 5 or 6 are open because they have contracts with official companies that should legally buy” the fuel, affirmed Martínez.

He explained that many of the fuel rods had a high tail and the ground could recover if it just closed with the government, otherwise it would definitely close.

Martinez said that the gasoline businessmen had to invest, at least 150 million pesos (only 75.000 dollars) to be sure before the State and to be able to sell legal fuel.

“Some students have up to 500 million pesos (250.000 dollars).

The crisis began in August last year when five gasoline plants were definitively closed, where other buildings now exist.

“They have closed and there is no shortage, there is no shortage because supplemental informality, added Martínez.

From 06.00:11.00 (4.000 gmt) and up to Saturday, XNUMX petrol stations across the country will close their installations for an hour a day, at midday, as a way to join the protest, according to Martinez.