Bolivia’s Fuel Crisis Pushes Economy to Brink as Farmers Sound Alarm

Bolivia faces a severe fuel shortage that threatens to derail its economy and food security. Kilometer-long queues stretch outside gas stations nationwide as desperate citizens wait days to purchase limited amounts of diesel and gasoline.

Santa Cruz farmers warn their crucial soy harvest hangs in the balance. Without sufficient diesel for tractors and machinery, crops rot in fields. Joel Eizaguirre, a soy producer, voices growing concern.

“We’ll be left with producers making different choices. It will affect everyone,” he warns. The Agricultural Chamber estimates Santa Cruz alone requires 3.3 million liters of diesel daily.

The region currently receives just 700,000 liters per day. Experts predict catastrophic impacts on food production that could create shortages well into 2025. Transportation services operate at just 35-50% capacity throughout Bolivia.

Transport unions have issued a 48-hour ultimatum to President Luis Arce’s government, threatening nationwide strikes if solutions don’t materialize immediately. The crisis stems from Bolivia’s dwindling foreign currency reserves and collapsed domestic gas production.

The country now imports 86% of its diesel and 56% of its gasoline while maintaining unsustainable subsidies. Fuel sells for $0.53 per liter domestically – less than half the international price.

Bolivia’s Economic Crisis

President Arce has implemented emergency measures including virtual classes, reduced work hours, and cryptocurrency authorization for fuel imports. His March 10 decree allows state-owned YPFB to use “virtual assets” to pay international suppliers – a dramatic reversal from Bolivia’s previous crypto ban.

Citizens express growing frustration through widespread protests. Women march with empty pots in Santa Cruz while farmers block key highways. The Multisectoral Committee has called for a major march on March 18 from Patacamaya to La Paz.

The economic turmoil intensifies political pressure on Arce, whose popularity has plummeted to 5% ahead of August elections. Without structural reforms, experts predict continued economic deterioration for what was once South America’s natural gas powerhouse.

More: Bolivia news in English, every day from The Rio Times.

This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error