Fuel has become one of Bolivia’s most scarce resources, with long queues of vehicles stretching for kilometers outside gas stations across the country.
Some drivers wait for days to buy just a few gallons of diesel, unless the station runs out of fuel altogether.
People like Victor García, a 66-year-old driver, now spend their days eating, sleeping, and socializing around their parked trucks, unsure of when they will be able to refuel.
The ongoing fuel shortage is happening against the backdrop of plummeting foreign currency reserves, making it difficult for Bolivians to find U.S. dollars at banks or exchange houses.
Imported goods that were once readily available are now scarce, exacerbating the crisis. The fuel shortage is deeply affecting the economy, disrupting daily life, commerce, and agriculture, while driving up food prices.
Public frustration has boiled over into protests, with citizens demanding action from President Luis Arce ahead of next year’s elections. “We want effective solutions to the shortage of fuel, dollars, and the increase in food prices,” said Reinerio Vargas, vice rector of Gabriel René Moreno Autonomous University, as hundreds of residents and truckers took to the streets of Santa Cruz to voice their anger. Similar protests, with people chanting “Everything is expensive!” have erupted in the capital, La Paz.
Many Bolivians feel that Arce’s government is in denial about the severity of the crisis. Despite repeated promises to resolve the shortages, including a recent commitment to fix the fuel situation in 10 days, the situation remains unchanged. As the government’s deadlines come and go, the exchange rate for the U.S. dollar on the black market has surged nearly 40% higher than the official rate.
The country, once a rising economic star in South America due to its natural gas exports, now finds itself grappling with dwindling fuel production. Bolivia spends around $56 million a week importing fuel from countries like Argentina, Paraguay, and Russia.
The fuel shortages are also affecting farmers, making it difficult to transport goods and operate essential machinery, particularly during the crucial planting season. The price of basic food items, such as potatoes, onions, and milk, has doubled in recent weeks, fueling inflation that now ranks among the highest in the region.
Bolivians are cutting back on spending, and many are struggling to afford basic necessities. Angela Mamani, a 67-year-old grandmother, described how she couldn't afford to buy vegetables for her family at El Alto’s open-air market.
At the same time, a government budget proposal for 2025, which includes a 12% increase in spending, has faced backlash from lawmakers and business leaders, who warn it could lead to more debt and inflation.
Meanwhile, the ruling party is divided, with Arce locked in a battle with former president Evo Morales for the presidency in the 2025 elections. Morales’ supporters recently staged a 24-day protest that blocked major roads, causing billions of dollars in losses for the economy. Although the protests have been dispersed, Arce’s government continues to blame Morales’ blockades for the ongoing fuel crisis.
In the face of all this, many Bolivians are calling for change. “People don’t live off politics; they live day to day, off of what they produce and what they earn,” said Geanina García, a 31-year-old architect, struggling to find affordable food in El Alto.