What if Bolivia were a private company?

“The real challenge is to be able to manage reserves,” says Carlos Delius, an industry entrepreneur and former head of the CBHE, Bolivia’s hydrocarbons and energy association. “If Bolivia were a private company, it would be in trouble, because it is not growing its reserves portfolio.”

What petrochemical plants are being built in Bolivia?

Bolivia is making unprecedented investments in a suite of petrochemical plants aimed at kickstarting an industrial base founded on gas. An ammonia and urea plant to make fertiliser is under construction in an $877m investment. Guillermo Achá, YPFB’s president, is also promoting plans for plastics processing plants in the coming decade.

Will Bolivia's hydrocarbon production fall?

Contrary to government confidence, some analysts and industry insiders expect production to start falling soon from its current level of about 60m cubic metres a day. “The real challenge is to be able to manage reserves,” says Carlos Delius, an industry entrepreneur and former head of the CBHE, Bolivia’s hydrocarbons and energy association.

Is Bolivia a 'energy heart of South America'?

Falling gas prices are shrinking the revenues on which the government and many regions have come to rely. Bolivia’s ambition, reliant on gas much more than its small oil reserves, is to develop its role as the “energy heart of South America”, a position its geography and resources should allow it to fulfil.

Does YPFB have a strategy for Bolivia's hydrocarbons?

Bolivia has trumpeted the success of increasing both gas exports and domestic consumption. But now YPFB’s management of Bolivia’s hydrocarbons and the Morales administration’s strategy are under perhaps more scrutiny than at any time since the dust settled on the 2006 nationalisations.

Is Brazil stepping up LNG investment in Bolivia?

Brazil is stepping up investment in LNG infrastructure, although industry insiders in Bolivia say the pipeline between the two countries remains a powerful advantage, and do not foresee that opportunities to sell as much gas as possible will disappear.