Mexico's Pemex says protests cause 'critical' border city fuel shortage

Pemex petrol station pumps are closed due to fuel shortage, caused by the blockade of a storage site by demonstrators protesting a gasoline price hike, at the border city of Mexicali, Mexico, January 10, 2017. REUTERS/Stringer

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexico's oil company, Pemex, is struggling to supply gas stations around the northern border city of Mexicali because of a blockade at a storage site, part of sometimes violent protests and looting over a gasoline price hike.

In a post on Twitter on Tuesday afternoon, Pemex said its ability to supply gas stations in Mexicali, across the border from California, had reached "critical levels" because of the blockade of its local storage plant.