Floods in Bolivia: at Least 30 Deaths Were Reported

The recent floods in Bolivia have resulted in a tragic toll of 30 people dead, five missing, and more than 126,000 families affected, according to Deputy Minister of Civil Defense, Juan Carlos Calvimontes.

This situation reflects the incompetence of the central government and the municipalities, which have systematically failed in disaster prevention.

Although floods and droughts are recurring phenomena in the country, the authorities continue to act in an improvised and reactive manner instead of implementing sustainable and long-term policies.

A delayed and insufficient response: the reflection of a failed state

Although the government has allocated more than Bs1.2 million in humanitarian aid  and has mobilized 2,845 personnel in rescue operations,  these actions are insufficient in the face of the magnitude of the tragedy.

These are delayed measures that only seek to appease popular indignation without addressing the root problem. The Bolivian state, under the leadership of Arce and MAS, has become a machine of improvisation, reacting to crises with temporary patches instead of preventing them with a forward-looking vision.

The lack of coordination between the central government and the municipalities only worsens the crisis, leaving thousands of Bolivians unprotected and without concrete answers.

The energy crisis: Bolivia is heading toward a dependence on foreign gas

Bolivia's energy matrix relies heavily on natural gas. However, recent studies warn that, if urgent structural measures are not implemented, Bolivia could become a gas importer by 2030. The consultancy Wood Mackenzie estimates that natural gas production in Bolivia will decrease from 39 million cubic meters per day in 2022 to just 11 million in 2030.

This decline would represent a collapse in the country's energy supply, leading to higher costs for citizens, affecting the industry, and jeopardizing economic stability. Bolivia has lived for decades with the illusion that natural gas is an inexhaustible source of income and development. However, the lack of investment in the exploration and exploitation of new deposits has left the country in a critical position.

As reserves are depleted, the state has opted to continue relying on gas exports without generating viable alternatives for energy self-sufficiency.

If Bolivia doesn't diversify its energy matrix, it will be forced to import gas at high prices, which will directly impact the cost of electricity, transportation, and industrial production. The gas crisis is imminent, and if the government doesn't take urgent measures, the country will suffer an unprecedented economic crisis.