Bolivian President Evo Morales on Friday nationalized British aviation fuel and lubricants supplier Air BPs Bolivian subsidiary, though a BP spokesman indicated talks between the company and Morales administration had already been under way.
Air BP has recently been in talks with the government to meets its desire to control its energy industry, BP spokesman Robert Wine told Lube Report. Air BP does not believe there was any need for [Fridays] take over process involving the military, as we had agreed to hand-over terms for our operations.
Morales had ordered Bolivias military and state oil company Yacimientos Petroliferos Fiscales Bolivianos (YPFB) to take over Air BP Bolivia S.A.
Based in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, the Bolivian Air BP subsidiary has a presence at 12 airports/airfields in the country, according to Wine. Air BP has operated in Bolivia since 2000 when the business was awarded a 22-year contract by the government, he added.
All 92 Air BP staff in the country are local, and our prime concern is for their welfare, Wine noted. We are supporting the hand-over process and trying to ensure that is done appropriately and safely.
Air BP provides fuels, lubricants and services to customers in 59 countries worldwide. The lubricants include a variety of turbo oils used in gas turbine engines on aircraft.