Bolivia's Dollar Crisis: Cistern Industry on the Brink of Collapse

Bolivia's Dollar Shortage Cripples Cistern Industry: 'We're Losing Thousands' La Paz, Bolivia – The ongoing dollar shortage in Bolivia is severely impacting businesses, particularly in the cistern industry, according to Maykol Montaño, president of the Federation of Eastern Cistern Entrepreneurs (Fedeci). In a recent interview, Montaño detailed the devastating effects of rising operational costs, stating, "For each trip, we're losing between 4,000 and 7,000 Bolivianos." This translates to significant losses for the sector, threatening the livelihoods of many drivers and the country's fuel supply chain. Montaño explained that the disparity between the official and parallel exchange rates for the dollar makes it impossible to operate profitably. He highlighted the additional challenges of transporting hazardous materials, adding to the financial strain. "Everything is based on the parallel dollar rate," he stressed, emphasizing the urgent need for a price adjustment in freight costs. Images from the video show long lines of trucks, visually representing the widespread impact of the crisis. Fedeci is calling for immediate intervention to address this critical economic issue, preventing further disruption to the transportation sector and the broader Bolivian economy. The government has yet to respond to these pressing concerns.