Overview

Bolivia is a member of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum, an organisation of the world’s largest gas producers and exporters which aims to encourage cooperation on issues relating to supply. Although Bolivia’s gas production is modest in global terms, it plays an important regional role as an exporter to Brazil and Argentina.

Bolivia exports the majority of the gas it produces, providing around a third of Brazil’s gas demand and a 10th of Argentina’s. La Paz is aiming to set up industries that will increase domestic consumption, including urea and ammonia production, and expand access to electricity by building more gas-fired plants. The ability to meet growing domestic demand and export commitments is considered a concern for the industry by the Energy Information Administration, which believes the sector will struggle for private investment in light of changes made to the oil and gas regime in 2006.

State company YPFB has announced it aims to spend $8.4 billion in conjunction with local private partners to boost hydrocarbon production between 2013 and 2016. YPFB is providing most of the investment, contributing $1.4 billion in 2013 compared with Repsol’s $372.5 million as the largest independent. However, the development of fields such as Margarita-Huacaya and Itaú will add to production over the next few years.

Page updated: 25/10/2013