Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz announced on Wednesday the withdrawal of fuel subsidies and declared an “economic, financial, energy and social emergency”by assuring that the country could not continue to operate “with the standards of the last 20 years”.
In a televised message, Paz announced a decree that he called “historic decision to save the homeland” this will allow “to act quickly, coordinate the State and take firm measures to stabilize the economy, protect Bolivian families and increase production”.
“We have made a central decision, that of protecting the pockets of the people and ensuring security in terms of energy and fuel, with clear prices and guaranteed supply,” declared the president, who was sworn in on November 8 in a context of economic crisis.
According to the president, “Bolivians know that we must be honest with hydrocarbons”, therefore, with the publication of the aforementioned decree, he indicated that “new hydrocarbon prices will be announced.”
In Bolivia, the liter of diesel and gasoline It is sold at a subsidized price of approximately $0.53.which has remained stable for more than 20 years and which represents an annual cost to the State of more than 2,000 million dollars.
Prices after the government announcement
Following Paz’s announcement, it was reported that the special gasoline would cost 6.96 bolivianos per liter, the equivalent of one dollar; premium gasoline for 11 bolivianos ($1.58); a liter of diesel for 9.80 bolivianos ($1.40); aviation gasoline at 10.57 bolivianos ($1.51), jet fuel at 10.74 bolivianos ($1.54).
During this time, the price of a gas bottle will remain at 22.50 bolivianos ($3.23).
The country faces gasoline and diesel supply problems since 2024because in recent months, lines of vehicles in front of gas stations have been recurring, even for several kilometers, a less constant problem since Paz became president.
Along with the removal of the subsidy, the president announced another series of economic measures, such as removing diesel from the list of controlled substances to facilitate its importation and “ensure continued supply for the country’s transportation, manufacturing, agribusiness and strategic sectors.”
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