Category: Industry

Information about industry sectors such as hydrocarbons, agriculture, etc.

Soboce invests $30 million to modernize the Warnes cement plant.

Sociedad Boliviana de Cemento S.A. (Soboce) decided to invest around $30 million to modernize the Warnes cement plant (Santa Cruz). The new milling system, previously horizontal, is characterized by lower energy use, higher production capacity, and a better relationship with the environment. With the new mill, the plant will have a monthly production capacity of 59,400 tons of cement.

Natural gas consumption in the domestic market rose to 14 MMm3/d

According to data from YPFB Transporte, in the last 15 years, the demand for natural gas for the domestic market has increased from 4 million cubic meters per day (MMm3/d) to 14 MMm3/d. Furthermore, the need for this energy source has grown 250% since 2006, an aspect that positively impacts the economy. As a result, the state-owned company seeks to reduce operating costs.

Bolivia sold potassium chloride and lithium carbonate for $6.17 mn

The government says it is accelerating the lithium industrialization process. From January to May, @litio_boliviano captured 42 million bolivianos ($ 6.17 mn) from potassium chloride and lithium carbonate sales. In addition, YLB launched in April this year the "International Call for Direct Lithium Extraction" (EDL), to which more than 19 foreign companies have already applied.

Remittances from abroad rise 42%, but the level of NIR is still low

Between January and April, family remittances from abroad reached a value of 449.9 million dollars, an amount 42.1 per cent higher than that recorded in the same period of 2020. Both years are not comparable due to the variation in the behaviour of the pandemic. The BCB report indicates that the resources come mainly from Spain, Chile, the United States, Argentina and Brazil.

Petrobras Bolivia has had its bank accounts frozen for 55 days

Petrobras Bolivia's bank accounts have frozen by order of the agro-environmental court of Entre Ríos (Tarija) since April 14. Petrobras informed that it could not make any pending payments due to the freezing of its accounts due to the precautionary measure. Judge Hesse set the payment of $61.1 million as payment for using the Baldivieso Vacaflor family's land in the first instance of the trial.

Food exports grow 49% year-on-year

Figures from the National Statistics Institute (INE) and prepared by IBCE reveal that in four months of this year, $594 million worth of food exported, 49% more than 2020 in value, and 11% more in volume imports reached $164 million. Sales of non-traditional products, 80% of which are foodstuffs, exceed those of hydrocarbons.

Siderúrgica Las Lomas will produce 60% of the steel demanded by the country

The Bolivian company Las Lomas has been thinking about building a steel plant in the country for eight years. Work began four years ago. Last February, operations started in the rolling sector and, at the end of July, the production of corrugated steel will start. With an investment of 177 million dollars, Las Lomas will produce 200 thousand tons of corrugated steel per year, equivalent to approximately 60 per cent of the national demand.

80% of gas fields in decline

The figures of the gas business are stark. A study carried out by the Millennium Foundation, based on official data, indicates that 80% of the gas fields are in the process of decline. It also states that the refineries are operating below their installed capacity. Only 17% of the natural gas fields are under development, another 3% are in the maximum production stage (Plateau), and 80% are in the process of decline.