BOLIVIA · PROFILE
Key Facts
- —The country Bolivia, a landlocked South American gas producer, has faced months of queues for diesel and gasoline.
- —Who he is Marcelo Blanco Quintanilla has been Minister of Hydrocarbons and Energy since Wednesday, 22 April 2026, appointed by President Rodrigo Paz.
- —What happened On Monday, 12 October, he presented a new Electricity Law and said tariffs will not rise “at this moment”.
- —Before the ministry From November 2025 he was vice-minister of electricity and renewable energy under his predecessor, Mauricio Medinaceli.
- —His plan Auctions for new power plants, long contracts, more private firms and renewables added gradually alongside gas.
- —Under pressure Lawmakers questioned him over fuel contracts and imports on 25 August; the Assembly did not censure him.
Marcelo Blanco, Bolivia’s Minister of Hydrocarbons and Energy, is the official fronting a new Electricity Law meant to open the power sector to private investors. On Monday, 12 October, he said tariffs will not rise “at this moment”, the radio network Erbol and the Santa Cruz daily El Deber reported.
For American readers, he is the man energy companies and investors would deal with if Bolivia opens power generation to outside capital. He also runs a fuel system strained by long queues, the crisis in which his predecessor was dismissed.
Who Is Marcelo Blanco
Marcelo Blanco joined President Rodrigo Paz’s government on 18 November 2025 as vice-minister of electricity and renewable energy. Erbol and the news site Éxito Noticias reported his swearing-in; Paz had taken office earlier that month.
That post sits inside the Ministry of Hydrocarbons and Energy, which oversees the state oil company YPFB and the state power company ENDE. Blanco holds a business administration degree and has worked in public and private energy posts, Erbol and the news site Bolpress reported.
The ministry’s own biography, quoted by the Cochabamba daily Los Tiempos, credits him with more than 30 years in finance and energy projects. It lists senior finance posts at multinational energy firms and consulting work on projects funded by the World Bank and the UN Development Programme.
On Wednesday, 22 April 2026, President Paz dismissed Minister Mauricio Medinaceli and swore in Blanco, Los Tiempos, Erbol and Bolpress reported. Paz said the change was meant to give Bolivia “energy sovereignty”.
“He has the mandate to carry these laws forward, especially the Hydrocarbons Law,” Paz said at the ceremony, according to Éxito Noticias. Paz added that Blanco should also bring his experience in energy.
Marcelo Blanco and the New Electricity Law
The government presented the draft Electricity and Renewable Energies Law on Thursday, 7 May 2026, with Blanco at the launch, Erbol and Éxito Noticias reported. “With this new law we move from a market practically controlled by the State to a competitive market,” he said, according to Erbol.
The draft lets new private players into the market and uses auctions to award new generation projects. Blanco has also promised an independent regulator and more power links with neighbouring countries.
On 12 October he said the current system leans heavily on gas-fired power plants. Wind, solar, biomass and hydro would be added gradually, under generation contracts of about 15 years or more, Erbol and El Deber reported.
“We do not talk about energy transition, we talk about diversification, because we are a gas country,” he said. On prices he added: “I cannot tell you about tomorrow, a year from now, five years from now.”
Fuel Queues, Diesel and a Censure Vote
Fuel is the other half of Marcelo Blanco’s job. He took over amid diesel shortages, queues at filling stations and complaints about poor-quality gasoline, Bolpress and Erbol reported.
On Tuesday, 25 August, the Legislative Assembly questioned him on fuel contracts, imports and supply. A censure motion fell short of the two-thirds majority it needed, and he stayed in office, Erbol and Éxito Noticias reported.
For background, see Bolivia’s takeover of state oil firm YPFB and the regulator closure plan.
The fuel fight also centres on Supreme Decree 5716, which removed the diesel subsidy. Supporters of former president Evo Morales, who led Bolivia from 2006 to 2019, have demanded its repeal and announced marches.
Critics of the Energy Reform
Evo Morales, Bolivia’s left-wing former president, claimed on 25 September that the government wants to “privatise solar energy”. He linked the plan to Bolivia’s agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Erbol and Éxito Noticias reported.
Marcelo Blanco presents the reform as a balance between investors and households. “There has to be a balance between the investor and the population,” he said on 12 October, according to El Deber.
What It Means for You
For US energy firms and investors, the draft law would bring auctions and long-term contracts to new power generation in Bolivia. “Investors are also part of the homeland,” Marcelo Blanco said on 12 October.
For visitors and residents, power prices are unchanged for now, but the minister did not promise a freeze. Fuel queues and protests over the diesel decree can still disrupt road travel.
What Is Not Known
It is not known when lawmakers will vote on the Electricity Law or whether it can pass. The government still has to win over an Assembly that questioned the minister in August.
How long tariffs will stay unchanged is unclear, as are the size and timing of the first generation auctions.
More on this story: Bolivia Electricity Law Explained, From Auctions to Tariffs.
More: Bolivia news in English, every day from The Rio Times.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Bolivia’s Minister of Hydrocarbons and Energy?
Marcelo Blanco Quintanilla has held the post since 22 April 2026. President Rodrigo Paz appointed him to replace Mauricio Medinaceli.
What did Marcelo Blanco do before becoming minister?
He was vice-minister of electricity and renewable energy in the same ministry from November 2025. Bolpress and the ministry’s published biography credit him with more than 30 years in finance and energy.
Will electricity prices rise in Bolivia?
On 12 October Marcelo Blanco said no tariff increase is planned at this moment. He did not rule out changes later and said poor households must be taken into account.
What does the new Electricity Law change?
The draft would bring private firms into the power market, use auctions for new generation and add wind, solar, biomass and hydro gradually alongside gas.
Sources: Erbol, 12 October 2026; El Deber, 12 October 2026; Opinión (Erbol), 12 October 2026; Éxito Noticias, 12 October 2026; Los Tiempos, 22 April 2026; Erbol, 22 April 2026; Éxito Noticias, 22 April 2026; Bolpress, 23 April 2026; Erbol, 18 November 2025; Éxito Noticias, 18 November 2025; Erbol, 7 May 2026; Éxito Noticias, 7 May 2026; Erbol, 25 August 2026; Éxito Noticias, 25 August 2026; Erbol, 25 September 2026; Éxito Noticias, 25 September 2026; Erbol, DS 5716.
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