Focus sharpens on Mexico fuel theft plan after blast kills 79

TLAHUELILPAN, Mexico, Jan 20 - A blast at a gasoline pipeline in Mexico that killed at least 79 people has put renewed attention on the government's strategy to stop fuel theft, with some relatives saying fuel shortages stemming from the plan led victims to risk their lives.

Fuel thieves punctured the Tula-Tuxpan pipeline a few miles from one of Mexico's main refineries on Friday. Up to 800 people flocked to fill plastic containers from the 7-meter (23-ft) gasoline geyser that ensued, officials say. A couple of hours later, it erupted in flames in a powerful explosion.

Half a dozen people interviewed by Reuters on Saturday said their relatives went to the leaking duct in Tlahuelilpan district in Hidalgo state because they struggled to find fuel elsewhere and were desperate to fill up cars to get to work or run their farms.

"A lot of innocent people came here, perhaps their car didn't have enough gasoline for tomorrow, and they said I'm just going to go for a few liters," said farmer Isidoro Velasco, 51, who was waiting for news of his nephew Mario Hidalgo, who he believed was likely killed. Hidalgo would have turned 34 on Saturday.

Late last month, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador launched a program to shut down an illegal fuel distribution network that siphons off about $3 billion worth of fuel annually from state oil firm Pemex.

The plan, which called for shutting pipelines targeted by thieves, led to widespread gasoline shortages in central Mexico this month, including in Hidalgo, north of Mexico City.

Lopez Obrador said on Sunday that the disaster had not weakened his resolve to fight fuel theft.

"I won't take a single step backwards," he told a press conference. "I can only offer people apologies, if this action causes sacrifices, harm and inconveniences. But we have to do it."

He said he hoped supply would normalize next week, as Mexico buys more tanker trucks for distribution by road.

Most gas stations in Tlahuelilpan were operating normally on Sunday, after being closed on Saturday.

Reuters