“Unfortunately, over the last two days, we have heard some national assembly members make statements to the effect that there are no credits linked to fuel purchases, and unfortunately, using this argument, they are trying to misinform the population (…)” the minister stated.

Prada insisted at a press conference on the legislators’ responsibility for the non-approval of credits and the normal flow of dollars used in the country, among other things, for fuel purchases.

Regarding the long lines at the pumps, he considered that this is a way to “wash their hands and evade their responsibility regarding the flow of foreign currency,” because it has prevented payment for fuel imports and the resulting reduction in diesel and gasoline supplies.

He reminded the deputies and senators that the loans were managed by the national government within the context of economic planning to meet the needs of the population and that, in compliance with Supreme Decree 29236, the Central Bank of Bolivia (BCB) receives the disbursements in dollars.

He added that the BCB converts them into national currency to transfer them to the entities executing the works.

He reported that this type of operation has been applied for years in the country, and until 2022, loan disbursements always exceeded the country’s external debt service payments, which also allowed for the availability of foreign currency for fuel imports. However, in 2023, the situation reversed, as the country received $1.126 billion in loans that year, but paid more than $1.1,491 billion.

The difference was greater in 2024, Prada explained, when Bolivia received $674 million in disbursements of US currency and paid $1.526 billion.

With the cutoff of foreign currency inflows, a gap was created that prevents 100 percent of fuel demand in the domestic market from being covered.

The minister denounced that “the people are being harmed” by preventing foreign currency from entering the national economy, and therefore demanded that legislators fulfill “their responsibility” and approve the loans.

“Be honest,” the minister demanded of politicians seeking to become president by attacking the national government in the general elections on August 17.

Prada reaffirmed, referring to the population, that the national government will take measures to meet the hydrocarbon supply requirements.

ef/ro/jpm