Bolivia's Fuel Crisis: International Bus Fares to Rise Amid Diesel Shortage

La Paz, Bolivia – International transport companies in Bolivia are warning of imminent fare increases for routes to Chile and Peru, citing a severe diesel shortage that has made operations unsustainable. Bus operators report being forced to acquire fuel at exorbitant prices, often on the black market, to maintain essential services. According to Ximena Salazar, a travel operator, international bus departures have significantly decreased. "Before, we used to have two or three daily departures to Chile and one or two to Peru. Now, only one bus leaves for Chile, and sometimes not even that, because there is no fuel here in Bolivia," Salazar stated. She added that passengers are reluctant to pay higher prices, despite the increased cost of diesel when purchased abroad, which can be double or triple the local price. Ruben Flores, a representative of the Central Bus Terminal Metropolitan, highlighted the dire situation, revealing that drivers are buying diesel at 12 Bolivianos per liter on the black market. He emphasized the economic toll on companies, with losses reaching up to 70%. "We are working at 25-30% capacity nationally. We spend more time sleeping in fuel queues at service stations," Flores explained. He also noted that many drivers are being laid off due to the lack of work. "Who is responsible for this? No one. This situation is already a chain reaction," he lamented. Drivers and transport companies are demanding an urgent solution from the government to normalize fuel supply, threatening to implement further measures of pressure if their demands are not met.

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