BOLIVIA: CONFLICTS ALONG NATURAL-GAS PIPELINE NEAR ARGENTINE BORDER THREATEN EXPORTS, KILL ONE.
Protestors took control of a natural-gas pipeline in southern Bolivia that delivered natural gas to Argentina, slowing down exports to both Argentina and Brazil in late April. The protests calling for a greater share of royalties that will be obtained from natural-gas resources led to one death and dozens of injuries. The military retook control of the pipeline after days of violent protests at gas installations, the government said late on April 20.
Bolivia forced to reduce gas exports
More than 1,000 protesters had seized the Yacuiba pipeline station run by Transredes, a subsidiary of Royal Dutch Shell. Protesters broke windows, set fire to two company cars, and threatened to shut off gas deliveries to Argentina.
The protest never shut off the flow, but the government had said that it was preparing to temporarily reduce its natural-gas exports to Argentina by about 75% and slightly decrease shipments to Brazil because of the protests, at an estimated loss of US$1 million a day.
That measure became unnecessary after the military retook the control station, the government said. Defense Minister Walker San Miguel said troops and police were guarding all energy installations in southern Bolivia.
Neighboring provinces within Bolivia's gas-rich southern department of Tarija dispute ownership of the Margarita field, still in its exploration and development stage but potentially one of the country's largest. Each is demanding a larger share of the field's eventual royalties. The region is home to a pro-autonomy movement--known as the "civic movement"--that seeks greater independence from the central government (see NotiSur, 2004-11-12). Most of Bolivia's large natural-gas deposits lie in the east and southeastern parts of the country.
Residents of Gran Chaco province, where Yacuiba is located 700 km southeast of La Paz, had several demands including greater control of the Margarita gas field. But the neighboring province of Burnet O'Connor maintains that the megafield belongs to its territory.
The Spanish-Argentine company Repsol YPF holds a majority stake in the Margarita field, with the British company BG Group and Argentine company Pan American Energy each owning a minority interest.
By April 25, the police said they had restored the border crossing in Yacuiba after 10 days of protest blockades. Protestors had placed rubble to block access to the international bridge, but military commander Col. Carlos Ponce de Leon told local radio Fides that...
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