Hatta Energy has reported that a computer failure at the Spanish Tax Agency has halted its operations, jeopardizing fuel supply amidst a crisis and rising oil prices.
Hatta Energy, the fourth largest hydrocarbon operator in Spain, has announced that its operations have been entirely paralyzed due to a computer failure on the website of the Tax Agency (Hacienda). This incident comes at a critical time when the country is already facing supply chain issues and soaring oil prices. The company estimates that this technical failure has affected fuel supply to over 40% of service stations in Spain that are unbranded, which is significant considering these stations are vital for national fuel distribution.
The impact of this disruption is severe, with Hatta Energy declaring that on just one Friday, the company was unable to deliver 11,323,100 liters of fuel to gas stations. The situation is expected to worsen daily as long as the Tax Agency does not resolve the issue, raising concerns about a potential fuel shortage in Spain. The crisis highlights how reliant the fuel supply system is on the digital operations of government agencies.
Further complicating matters, the incident particularly affects hydrocarbon operators that lack the 'reliable' label from the Ministry of Finance, including Hatta Energy, although they have complied with all required regulations and submissions. This situation not only poses immediate operational challenges for Hatta Energy but also raises questions about the robustness of Spain’s fuel supply chain amidst its vulnerability to technical failures from governmental platforms.
