Weekly Report - 23 May 2006

BOLIVIA | Private sector also rejects Gasur. The Cámara Boliviana de Hidrocarburos (CBH), which represents not only the subsidiaries of foreign oil and gas companies operating in Bolivia but also the firms providing services in the hydrocarbons sector (almost 100 companies in all), came out strongly last week against Bolivian participation in the Venezuelan-inspired Gasoducto del Sur (Gasur) scheme. Its main argument is that this project conspires against Bolivia's leadership role as a supplier of gas to South America. The CBH says the Bolivian government should seek to 'recover the trust of Brazil and Argentina in order to take the lead in projects to supply the region, especially the Brazilian market'. A week earlier, the hydrocarbons minister, Andrés Soliz, had also argued against Bolivian participation in the scheme unless Petrobrás jettisoned its transnational shareholders [WR-06-19]. There are strong signs that it may be too late for Bolivia to attempt a recovery of Brazil's trust (see page 13).

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